





7 



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A\XM\\ Ot %i^Xi%XtU. 






UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



INFANT SALVATION 



IX ITS RELATION TO 



Infant gepabitg, Jnfant gcgtnf ration 



INFANT BAPTISM. 



- BY 

J. H. A. BOMBERGER, D. D., 

PASTOR OF THE RACE STREET EVANGELICAL REFORMED CHURCH. PHILAD. 




PHILADELPHIA: 
LINDSAY & BLAKISTON. 

1859. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1859, by 

LINDSAY & BLAKISTON, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Eastern District of 
Pennsylvania. 



HENRY B. ASHMEAD, BOOK AND JOB PRINTER, 
Sanson! Street above Eleventh. 



INFANT SALVATION 



IN ITS RELATION TO 



INFANT BAPTISM. 



The question of the relation which in- 
fants and young children sustain to the 
Lord Jesus Christ, and to His work of 
redemption^ is not a question of merely 
abstract or speculative interest. It has 
important practical bearings. Infants and 
young children form a large portion of 
the membership of Christian families. 
They have natural claims to attention. 
Their claims to consideration upon spiritual 
grounds^, however^ are vastly stronger 
than those based upon their merely natural 
relations. If it be not only allowable, 
but right; that parents, and especially 



Infant Salvation, 



The subj ect a practical one. 



Christian parents^ should feel due concern 
for the future bodily and temporal wel- 
fare of their children^, how much more so 
that they should feel concerned for the 
spiritual and eternal welfare of those 
children. If it be reasonable and proper 
that Christian parents should inquire^, 
with some anxiety, after encouraging 
grounds of hope, that their children, if 
spared to reach maturer years, will have 
a happy and peaceful pilgrimage through 
this life, how much more reasonable and 
proper, that they should earnestly ask 
after some satisfactory basis of faith, that 
the highest interests of those children are 
secured for the life to come. 

Little children are most frail and tender 
plants in the family nursery. The fear- 
ful law of death, to which they seem pe- 
culiarly liable, makes sad havoc among 



Infant Salvation. 



Children are frail treasures. 



them. How many of these tender plants 
are annually bhghted in the blade ! But 
very few Christian families are permitted 
to escape this blight. There are few 
parents who have not wept bitter tears 
over some coffined treasure ; few who 
have not bent in the anguish of unutter- 
able grief over some precious little grave. 
And can these bereaved Jacobs^ and 
these disconsolate Rachels be unconcerned 
about the destiny of their beloved children 
beyond the grave ? During the first days 
of their deep affliction^ they may indeed 
not be able to do anything but mourn^ and 
cry out : '^ Oh ! my child, my child, would 
God I had died for thee." But the bit- 
terness of this sorrow will gradually yield 
to calmer grief. Smitten nature will re- 
vive somewhat from the stunning effect 
of the stroke which has laid a beloved 



Infant Salvation. 



Parental anxiety for their eternal destiny. 



child low in the dust. Chastened reflec- 
tions will succeed to their passionate dis- 
tress. They w^ill begin more and more to 
remember that the infant of which the 
Lord bereaved them^ had an immortal as 
well as mortal part; that it was not 
merely the ^^ frail fleeting comfort of an 
hour/' but possessed a spirit on which 
the icy, palsying hand of death could not 
be laid. And they will ask : whither 
has that spirit fled? Where does it now 
abide ? 

Now it is certain that nature and rea- 
son shed no more light upon the sepul- 
chres of departed children, than upon 
those of departed adults. Some stronger 
ground of consolation is needed, there- 
fore, with regard to the fate of departed 
infants, than mere natural hopes, and ra- 
tional probabilities afford. Reflecting 



Infant Salvation. 



What becomes of those who die ? 



Christians cannot be satisfied with taking 
it for granted J merely^ that " all is well" 
with the little ones whom the '' Lord 
hath taken away." Especially void of 
comfort wall such an assumption be, w^hen 
it is seen to come in conflict with some 
plain and universally admitted doctrines 
of the Holy Scriptures and of Evangelical 
Christianity. 

Are little children, who die in their in- 
fancy, saved inheaven ? If we hope and 
believe that they are thus saved, upon 
what foundation do this hope and faith 
rest? How are they saved? And if 
we have good reasons for hoping and be- 
lieving that salvation has been provided 
for them also, are they not entitled to the 
divinely appointed sign and seal of such 
salvation, that is Baptism? Is it not the 
privilege and the duty, therefore, of 



Infant Salvation, 



Certain grounds of hope needed. 



Christian parents to have their children 
baptized ? 

Assuredly these questions do not in- 
volve merely speculative and unprofitable 
abstractions! What should enlist the 
deepest anxieties of believers, whom God 
has given to feel the sweet solicitudes of 
parental hearts^ if not such inquiries as 
these? If, therefore^ any of us have 
hitherto been contented with vague opin- 
ionS; and general hopes having no certain 
Scriptural foundation^ let us dismiss this 
unnatural indifference^ and ascertain the 
answers given by the Word of God, to 
the above and kindred questions. 

The proper consideration of this subject 
will require us to ascertain what the Sa- 
cred Scriptures teach upon the following 
points: 1. Infant Depravity, 2. The 



Infant Salvation. 



Natural depravity of children. 



necessity of Infant Regeneration, 3. Infant 
Salvation hy Christ, 4. Infant Baptism, 

§ 1. — Infant Depravity. 

The first point demanding attention re- 
lates to the moral character and spiritual 
state of children by nature. If they are 
morally free from guilty and spiritually 
pure, they of course do not need the in- 
tervention of Divine grace. The grace 
and the mercy af God, in Christ, are for 
such only as are under condemnation 
through the defilement of sin. If our 
young children are not tainted with this 
defilement, they are fit for heaven with- 
out the application of that mercy and 
grace. There would then be no room for 
regeneration in their case. For of what 
advantage would regeneration be to those 
who were already spotless and pure? 



10 Infant Salvation. 

If not depraved they need no grace. 

'There would be no reason for bringing 
them to Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ 
is '' the Lamb of God that taketh away 
the sin of the world ;" but on the above 
supposition children are not^ as infants^ 
implicated in the sin of the world. 

In this case^ likewise^ there w^ould be 
no propriety in baptizing them. For 
Baptism is a Gospel sacrament. But a 
sacrament is a sign and a seal of the 
blessings provided for our lost and con- 
demned race, in the covenant of redemp- 
tion. If, therefore, our children are not 
lost and condemned with the race out of 
which they have sprung, and to which 
by birth they belong, there would be no 
propriety in applying to them this sacra- 
mental sign and seal. If they have not 
the plague-spot on them, why wash 
them in the laver of regeneration, 



Infant Salvation. 11 

If pure by nature, they need not our prayers. 

the significant symbol of efficacious 
cleansing by the blood of Christ ? Their 
Baptism^ under such circumstances^ would 
be no better than a sacrilegious farce. 

Nay^ we would then be compelled to go 
still further than this. If infants do not 
share the penalties of sin incurred by our 
apostate race, they cannot be proper sub- 
jects for any spiritual concern. They are 
then placed not only above the need of 
our sacraments^ but above the need of our 
supphcationS;, excepting as we might pray 
the Lord to bestow desirable temporal 
blessings upon them^ or entreat Him to 
save them from prospective guilt and fu- 
ture spiritual death. What else could 
He do for them? They would not need 
His grace ; for grace is for the guilty and 
the lost, neither of which they would be, 
on the present assumption. For what- 



12 Infant Salvation. 

Infant depravity practically ignored, 

ever other purpose^ therefore^ parents 
might present their infant children before 
the Lord^ they could not consistently hold 
them np to His promised compassion in 
Jesus Christ. 

We may be told^, however^ that state- 
ments like these are wholly superfluous : 
that all evangelical Christians hold the 
doctrine that children are by nature in a 
sinful and lost condition. To this I reply 
that although this doctrine may be pro- 
fessedly held by all evangelical Christian 
parents^, there are many who seem to have 
no deep convictions of its solemn truth. 
The doctrine may stand in the letter of 
their creed^ but it does not live in the ac- 
tual faith of their hearts. It has become 
practically obsolete, and seems to be 
gradually passing away with some other 
antiquated truths, for which the en- 



Infant Salvation. 13 

Althougli confessed in hymns. 

lightened reason of the present age is 
losing all taste and patience. True the 
doctrine is still permitted to retain its 
place in our Hymn books; and out of 
respect for the departed fathers who put 
it there, some old-fashioned congregations 
may like, occasionally to sing : 

" Conceived in sin? wretched state! 
Before we draw our breath, 
The first young pulse begins to beat 
Deprayity and death. 

But how many, think you, reflect upon 
the fearful import of the sentiment thus 
strongly expressed? We all know how 
easy it becomes, alas ! both to sing and 
to pray what, nevertheless, is not really 
believed or truly felt. Especially do we 
know that religious poetry, and Church 
psalmody, are supposed to exercise the 
common license of all poetry, and express 



14 Infant Salvation. 

The language of hymns and creeds often a dead letter. 

Scripture facts and truths in strong fig- 
urative language^ which, requires to be 
considerably softened down, when con- 
verted into simple prose. The high tone 
still maintained in our good old orthodox 
hymns, therefore, cannot be taken as a 
fair index of the belief, in regard to this 
doctrine, now actually prevalent among 
many evangelical Christians. In spite of 
creeds, and of hymns, infants are con- 
sidered as being by nature, dear, innocent, 
and pure as the fresh blown violet of the 
meadow, or the unsullied snow upon the 
mountain top. 

A painful proof of this is certainly af- 
forded by the growing indifference of 
Christian parents, such I mean as belong 
to Churches which maintain Infant Bap- 
tism, to the baptism of their children. Sta- 
tistics have been published recently, which 



Infant Salvation. 15 

The neglect of Baptism proves this. 

exhibit a state of things well calculated 
to meA^e and alarm those who have anv 
zeal for one of the plainest doctrines of 
the Bible, and that a doctrine upon the 
maintenance of which depends in a great 
measure, our appreciation of the atone- 
ment by Jesus Christ. 

In itself, the neglect of so explicitly 
enjoined an institution as Baptism is bad 
enough. But the evil assumes an aggrava- 
ted form, when it becomes apparent that 
the sealing sacrament is neglected, be- 
cause the truth and fact it symbolizes and 
seals are ignored. It is because infants 
are thought to be somehow released from 
innate sin, sure of salvation, even in- 
dependently of the Gospel plan of salva- 
tion, that it is held to be practically un- 
important, or at least unessential, whether 
they be baptized or not. And ihe real 



16 Infant Salvation. 

Deep convictions upon tlie subject needed. 

ground of this persuasion^ that they are 
sure of being saved^ even independently of 
the Gospel plan of salvation, is the virtual 
repudiation of the doctrine of the total de- 
pravity of little children^ by nature. For 
if Christian parents were deeply convinced 
that their children have by nature a moral 
character which disqualifies them for the 
presence of God, and the fellowship of 
angels and saints in heaven, and renders 
them liable to the penalty of eternal 
death, they would be equally convinced 
that those children must be brought into 
actual participation in the redemption of 
Jesus Christ, in order to secure the one and 
to escape the other. And if they were fully 
convinced of this, they would not esteem it 
so indifferent a matter, w^hether those chil- 
dren received, or whether they did not re- 
ceive, the sign and seal of that redemption. 



Infant Salvation. 17 

Scripture proofs of Infant Depravity. 

If now we turn to the Word of God to 
have our practical errors upon this sub- 
ject corrected^ and any existing doubts 
in reference to it removed, we shall find 
that it teaches the doctrine of Infant De- 
pravity, and the consequent liability of 
all infants by nature, to the extreme 
penalties of sin, in the strongest and 
most explicit terms. It teaches the doc- 
trine by direct statements of it, and by 
obvious and unavoidable implications. 

It is taught by positive declarations 
to this effect. Mankind are said to be 
"shapen in iniquity, and conceived in 
sin." In view of this prevailing native 
depravity, Job asks: "^^What is man, 
that he should be clean? and he which 
is born of a woman, that he should be 
righteous ?" (Job xv. 14.) We are 
furthermore told, that " The wicked 



1^ Infant Salvation. 

More direct proofs. 

^are estranged from the womb: they go 
astray as soon as they be born." And 
as a corroborative reason for this^ our 
Lord declares^ '' That which is born of 
the flesh is flesh." Hence all are repre- 
sented as being abominable; all as hav- 
ing gone aside and become filthy in the 
sight of God. '^All have sinned and 
come short of the glory of God." 

With such declarations before their 
eyeS; all evangelical Churches agree in 
laying down the doctrine of native de- 
pravity in their respective creeds or con- 
fessions of faith^ and thus nominally 
assenting to its truth. Even those de- 
nominations which virtually neutralize 
the doctrine^ by rejecting the ordinance 
which primarily holds in connection with 
man s total depravity by nature^ and in- 
volves the symboUcal confession of it, 



Infant Salvation. 19 

The doctrine taught by implication. 

still strive to keep so far within the 
limits of orthodoxy^ as to avow belief in 
that depravity. 

In addition to these direct and posi- 
tive teachings of the Sacred Scriptures 
upon this subject^ we find them abound- 
ing in passages which teach the doctrine 
by necessary implication. All men are 
said to die in Adam : " Death hath passed 
upon all men^ for that all have sinned." 
The doctrine is a necessary consequence 
of the fall of our first parents. If the 
root is unholy/ the branches must be so 
too. Adam begat Seth in his own like- 
ness. This^ however^ was now the like- 
ness of fallen Adam^ not of man as made 
originally in the image of God. 

Those Scriptures, also, which teach 
that mankind are universally sinful, prove 
the natural corruptness and sinfulness of 



20 Infant Salvation. 

Proven by their liability to bodily ills. 

children. The human heart is declared^ 
without any exception, to "be ^^ deceitful 
above all things^ and desperately wicked." 
All men are represented as beings by na- 
ture, possessed of that '^ carnal mind which 
is enmity against God." All, alike, there- 
fore, are called ^^ children of wrath." 
Wherefore, judged by divine law, " every 
mouth is stopped, and all the world is be- 
come guilty before God." 

In further evidence of this doctrine, 
we have the sad fact of the constant lia-^ 
bility of little children to the bodily suf- 
ferings and temporal evils entailed upon 
the human race through sin. None are 
subject to these evils but those who, in 
some way, participate in the occasion or 
the cause of them. If children had no 
corrupt natures ; if they were not in any 
way implicated in the guilt and penal- 



Infant Salvation. 21 

B7 their subjection to sore diseases. 

ties of the apostacy of the race, the}^ 
would not be involved in the physical 
and the temporal miseries with which 
that apostacy has flooded the world. It 
is because the moral character of sinful 
parents is inherited by their children, 
that they also fall heirs to the temporal 
penalties of sin. Whatever cheering pros- 
pects the Gospel may open up to our 
view, regarding the destiny of these chil- 
dren in the world to come, here in this 
life we actually see them constantly sub- 
jected to all the woes incident to our 
present state, in consequence of the preva- 
lence of sin. Diseases in their most 
painful and distressing forms rack and 
emaciate their feeble frames. Burning 
fevers, loathsome sores, devouring plagues 
consume them. Many bring diseases and 
wretched deformities Avith them into the 



22 Infant Salvation. 

Physical sufferings the penalty of sin. 

world^ as it were only to wail and groan 
under them for a brief period^ and then 
to pass down to the place of the dead, 
Their hodiesy even like those of the be- 
loved followers of the Lord Jesus Christy 
are not put beyond the reach of such 
physical woes^ by any gracious provision 
which may be otherwise made for them. 

The inference is obvious. Such physi- 
cal evils only follow in the track of moral 
evil. If the soul is by nature pure and 
uncorrupt^ the body it inhabits will also 
be pure and uncorrupt. And such a 
body would be beyond the reach of dis- 
ease so long as its indwelling spirit 
would retain its purity. Where there 
is no moral depravity^ there will be no 
physical disorders or sufferings. It is 
only through moral corruption that men 
become liable to bodily corruption. 



Infant Salvation. 23 

Their death proves their native depravity. 

•^^ Death/' physical or bodily deaths as 
well as spiritual death, "is the Avages 
of sin." Deaths therefore^ and of course 
all those diseases and sufferings which 
lead to death^ come upon us, upon all 
of us^ whether we be infants or adults^ 
because of sin. There would be nothing 
in the body on which disease and death 
could fasten their grasp, but for its union 
with a depraved soul, a corrupt nature. 

Arguing, therefore, from the effect to 
the cause, as we certainly may and must 
in this case, we must feel compelled to 
adopt the conclusion, that our children 
are by nature morally depraved. The 
seed of all iniquity is born with them. 
They bring with them into the world 
hearts in which the germs of all bad 
appetites and passions lie latently im- 
bedded. And^ alas ! how soon this seed 



24 Infant Salvation. 

Another proof. 

sprouts out and shows itself in the va- 
rious tempers which even very young 
children are found to display! 

One more proof of this mournful truth 
may be named. It is furnished by the 
factj that all young children who live to 
reach maturity^ grow" up to be actual 
transgressors. No mere man ever lived^ 
who always did what was perfectly just^ 
and never sinned. No mere man ever 
livedo who did not^ in his natural state^ 
show a constant and predominant bias 
to evil^ and disinclination to good. The 
carnal mind has uniformly shown itself 
to be inimical to holiness. Even the 
children of the most pious and exem- 
plary parents do not form exceptions to 
this rule. Whatever modifying and re- 
straining influences the gracious character 
of godly ancestors may exert upon their 



Infant Salvation. 25 

All who reach maturity betray depraved natures. 

posterity^ those influences have never been 
found a sufficient antidote to the inher- 
ited poison of sin. Now^ there is but 
one rational explanation of this indis- 
putable fiict. If all men^ everywhere^ 
and at all times^ have become actual 
sinners^ there must be something radi- 
cally wrong in their very natures ; they 
must all be naturally corrupt. The fruits 
are bad because the trees are bad. The 
waters are bitter because the fountains 
are bitter. They all sin because they 
are all sinful. For it is certainly just 
to conclude, that if all who grow up to 
maturity betray such natural corrupt- 
ness, this evil must be so inherent in 
human nature itself, that all the de- 
scendants of Adam must be defiled by 
it. It w^ould be absurd to suppose that 
only little children who may be cut off 



26 Infant Salvation. 

Why the doctrine has been proven. 

in their early days^ form an exception 
to the rule. In this view of the case, 
therefore, we find another corroboration 
of the doctrine of infant depravity. 

It will hardly be necessary to add, 
that I have not dwelt at such length 
upon this painful theme, merely for the 
purpose of demonstrating a doctrine. As 
already intimated, a more practical con- 
sideration has prompted me to adopt this 
course. It is because clear and strong 
convictions of this truth are necessary, 
before it can be duly realized, that all 
children must be saved by grace, if 
saved at all, that the direct and im- 
plied arguments of Scripture and expe- 
rience have been so minutely detailed. 
Certainly, if the Word of God teaches 
the doctrine, we should be willing to 



Infant Salvation. 27 

Infant Kegeneration. 

study and receive it; and if the clear 
perception and belief of the doctrine are 
requisite to prepare our minds and hearts 
to receive other essential doctrines, and 
especially to enable us to appropriate the 
precious consolations which the Gospel 
furnishes to Christian parents who may 
be bereft of their children, we should be 
glad to attain to such a perception and 
belief. 

§ 2. — Infant Eegeneration. 

There may be those, even among pro- 
fessedly evangelical Christians, who will 
startle at the very expression: "Infant 
Regenerationr And, indeed, all who re- 
ject Infant Baptism, or cherish doubts 
in reference to its importance, will be 
predisposed to doubt or deny the neces- 



28 Infant Salvation. 

Its necessity often doubted. 

sity of Infant Regeneration. The two 
doctrines seem to belong together, and 
so belong together as to be inseparable. 
One of the main popular objections to the 
baptism of little children is, that little 
children are not susceptible of faith, or 
of any spiritual operations, and there- 
fore cannot be fit subjects of such an 
ordinance. What does a babe know of 
God, of Jesus Christ, of sin, of salva- 
tion, of the Church, of the Sacraments ? 
Why then baptize such a babe into Jesus 
Christ? 

All this, of course, sounds very plausi- 
ble. It seems so evident and reasonable, 
that it may be thought wholly unanswer- 
able. But how easy to glide over from 
such views of Infant Baptism, to similar 
views and feelings in regard to Infant Re- 
generation ! Why should a little babe 



InfantSalvation. 29 



" How can a babe be regenerated?" 



need to be born again ? How can it be 
born again ? To be regenerated requires 
that human nature be renewed; that 
what is born of the flesh be re-born of 
the Spirit; that the soul which^ by its 
first birth in Adam^ is under condemna- 
tion^ be set free from that condemnation 
by a second birth in Jesus Christ. But 
the objectors and the doubting ask : How 
can an unconscious babe undergo any 
such radical change as this ? What does 
it know of its sinfulness and condemna- 
tion in the first Adam ? What can it do 
towards securing the renewal of its na- 
ture in the second Adam? And why^ 
then, should such a renewal be thought 
necessary in its case ? 

No doubt many who have hitherto been 
rejecting Infant Baptism would be pre- 
pared to say, — If it be proven to us that 



30 Infant Salvation. 

Hence tlieir Baptism is thought superfluous. 

little children can and must be born again^ 
our chief difficulty in the way of their 
Baptism will be removed. If we can 
be persuaded that they need the substance 
we shall no longer object to their re- 
ceiving the sign and the seal of that sub- 
stance. Let such persons calmly and 
candidly follow us in the statements 
which shall presently foUoW;, and we feel 
confident that they will be convinced of 
the truth of the doctrine now under con- 
sideration. 

I affirni; and shall prove^ the necessity 
of Infant Regeneration, in order to infant 
salvation. 

Let it be distinctly noticed^, hoAvever, 
that it is of their regeneration^ not of 
their conversion that this necessity is af- 
firmed. These two terms are often con- 
founded; as though they meant precisely 



Infant Salvation. 81 

Regeneration not conversion. 

the same thing. And yet there is a very 
essential difference between them. Re- 
generation is exclusively the work of the 
Holy Spirit on the soul of man. In it 
man is passive. Whatever an adult sin- 
ner may do^ through the grace of God^ in 
the way of praying for the regenerating 
influences of the Holy Spirit^ and of using 
means favorable to his regeneration^ the 
act itself must be performed by God^ as 
really as that of a man s first creation. 

This fact is clearly indicated by the 
Sacred Scriptures. They nowhere inti- 
mate that a man can in any w^ay regen- 
erate himself;, but always speak of his 
regeneration as being divinely wrought in 
him. It is called a " being born of water 
and of the Spirit ; " a ^^ being created in 
Christ Jesus unto good works." The new 
man is " created after God in righteous- 



32 Infant Salvation. 

Eegeneration God's work alone. 

ness and true holiness." The washing of 
regeneration is ^^ by the renewing of the 
Holy Ghost." It is therefore only God 
who can '' circumcise our hearts and the 
hearts of our seed^ to love the Lord our 
God with all our hearty and with all our 
soulj that we may live." Only the power of 
Almighty grace can "^ create a clean hearty 
and renew a right spirit" within man. 
Wherefore it is said of the true children 
of God : '' Of His own will begat He 
us^ with the word of truth^ that we 
should be a kind of first-fruits of His 
creatures." 

In regard to man's conversion^ on the 
other hand; it is different. Conversion is 
that free and voluntary act of the peni- 
tent sinner by which^ with the help of 
divine grace^ he renounces and turns from 
sin and unrighteousness^ as being offen- 



Infant Salvation. 33 

Conversion explained. 

sive to Gocl^ and engages to lead a holy 
life. In conversion the awakened and 
penitent sinner^ reflects for himself upon 
his past course and present state^ grieves 
for himself over his sins^ prays for himself 
for the pardon of his iniquities^ resolves 
for himself truly to forsake those iniqui- 
ties and to lead a new life^ and strives for 
himself to do all this. For all these ex- 
ercises of his mind and hearty he is of 
course indebted to the Spirit of God, 
whose warnings^ entreaties^ and invita- 
tions^ have graciously and powerfully 
constrained him to feel, and pray^ and re- 
solve, and strive as he does. But still 
these several acts are his own^ self-con- 
scious, personal acts. As in regeneration 
he is passive, so in conversion he is active. 
Should any question this distinction be- 
tween regeneration and conversion^ let 



34 Infant Salvation. 

This distinction not new. 

them compare those passages of Scripture 
which speak of the former with those 
which speak of the latter^ and they will 
have their doubts dissipated. (See 
Isaiah Iv. 1 — 7. Ezekiel xiv. 6. Eze- 
kiel xviii. 30—32. Matthew iii. 2. 
Matthew iv. 17. Acts iii. 19. Acts 
viii. 22. Acts xxvi. 20. Revelation 
ii. 5.) 

This distinction is carefully observed 
in all the evangelical confessions of faith. 
Thus in Luther s ^^ Order of Salvation/' 
it is said (under Questions 88 and 92^,) 
that the Holy Spirit makes new creatures 
of men at their Baptism^ referring espe- 
cially to Baptism in infancy 5 whereas re- 
pentance and conversion are urged (Ques- 
tions 2 and 107^) as the personal act of 
the convicted sinner. 

The Heidelberg Caieclmm is still more 



Infant Salvation. 35 

It is made in all evangelical creeds. 

explicit in declaring that regeneration is 
exclusively the work of the Holy Spirit. 
(Questions 8^ 53 and 70^) whilst conver- 
sion is defined to consist on the one hand 
in a " sincere sorrow of hearty that we 
have provoked God by our sins^ and more 
and more to hate and flee from them 5" 
and on the other hand in ^^a sincere joy 
of heart in God, through Christ, and with 
love and delight to live according to the 
will of God in all good works." 

In the Westminster Confession, and 
Larger and Shorter Catechisms of the 
Presbyterian Churches, the same distinc- 
tion is assumed and maintained. In 
" Effectual Calling," as involving regener- 
ation, man is represented as the "pas- 
sive " subject of the enlightening and re- 
newing grace of the Holy Ghost; whilst 
in '' Repentance unto Life," as compre- 



36 Ineant Salvation. 

Westminster Confession quoted. 

hending conversion^ " a sinner^ out of the 
sight and sense^ not only of his danger^ 
but also of the filthiness and odiousness 
of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature 
and righteous law of God^ and upon the 
apprehension of His mercy in Christ to 
such as are penitent^ so grieves for and 
hates his sins^ as to turn from them all 
unto God^ purposing and endeavoring to 
walk with Hini^ in all the ways of His 
commandments." (Confession of Faith^ 
Chapter X. Sections 1 and 2. Chapter 
XV. Section 2.) 

These extracts are given without com- 
ment. They clearly show that in pressing 
a distinction between these two acts, 
nothing new has been advocated. Keep- 
ing this important distinction, therefore, 
in view, I maintain the necessity of infant 
regeneration^ upon the following grounds : 



Infant Salvation , 



Infant Regeneration necessarv in consequence of total depravity. 

In the first place it follows from the 
doctrine of the universal depravity of 
human nature. The same arguments 
Tvhich prove the reality of the one, im- 
pliedly demonstrate the necessity of the 
other. Assuredly no evangelical Christian 
will admit that a soul so corrupt as is the 
soul of every man by nature, is fit for 
heaven in spite of its corruptness. There 
must be an antecedent change in the 
moral character of such a soul in order 
to qualify it for the presence of a holy 
God. or for the enjoyment of a holy state. 
An unholy nature would no more bloom 
into holiness in the pure light of heaven, 
than a bad tree would vield irood fruit 
simply by being subjected to a bright 
sun, a pure atmosphere and refreshing 
showers. The pride of Lucifer grew 
into rebellion under the holiest influ- 



38 Infant Salvation. 

Unrenewed souls unfit for heaven. 

ences of the celestial world. And if 
spirits by nature depraved^ could by any 
means be translated to the holy habita- 
tions of the Lamb and His ransomed 
saintS; the sacred influences of the place^ 
alone, could not change their nature^ 
or annul their depravity. It does not 
alter a leopard's spots to put it among 
lambs^ much less would its ferocity be 
changed by such companionship. 

If;, consequently^ we believe the doc- 
trine of man's total depravity, as the Sa- 
cred Scriptures teach it; if we hold that 
it involves a corruption of the inner 
sources of man's feelings^ and thoughts, 
and volitions, of his inmost life, — then 
we must also hold to the necessity of in- 
fant regeneration, in order to an infant's 
fitness for Heavenly services and enjoy- 
ments. 



Infant Salvation. 39 

Another proof of this doctrine. 

A second reason for maintaining this 
doctrine is furnished by the fact, that the 
only way of salvation for any of our race, 
is through a real and living union with the 
the Lord Jesus Christ. As it is only by 
being, naturally in the first Adam that we 
die, so it is only by being supernaturally 
in the second Adam that we can be made 
alive. In both cases, equally, there must 
be a living, actual union, in order to a 
real effect. But in order to such a real 
union with Jesus Christ, we must be 
" created in Christ Jesus unto good 
works." In other words we must be re- 
generated. Only they who have Christ 
for their life, will, when He appears, ap- 
pear with Him in glory. 

Or do we know of some other method 
of surmounting the difficulty ? Are there 
two ways by which the sinful descendants 



40 Infant Salvation. 

But one way of salvation. 

of Adam can be delivered from the conse- 
quences of the fall^ and restored to for- 
feited felicity ? Is there one method 
adapted to the case of adults^ and another 
method adapted to the case of infants and 
young children ? If there Avere^ then 
there would be two distinct classes of 
saved men in heaven. One class w^ould con- 
sist of those redeemed through the atone- 
ment and life of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
The other class would be composed of 
such as stood under no special obligations 
to the Saviour for their inheritance of joy. 
And this class would include the multi- 
tudes of children that had died in their 
infancy. Whoever else in heaven would 
have crowns to cast at the Redeemer's 
feet^ these little ones^ saved in some other 
way than by that Redeemer's strong arm^ 
would have no such offerings to bring be- 



Infant Salvation. 41 

If Infants are not renewed in Christ they owe Him no praise. 

fore Him. Whilst the one hundred and 
forty-four thousand^ and thousands of 
thousands^ would break forth into the har- 
monious choruS;, "Worthy is the Lamb 
that was slain^ and that redeemed us to 
God by His bloody out of every kindred, 
and tongue, and people, and nation/' these 
infants in heaven might listen to the song 
with admiration, and wonder what all 
those high hallelujahs meant, but they 
could not join in the heavenly hymn, or 
swell the saintly anthem. They would 
not be arrayed in robes washed white in 
the blood of that Lamb, but would stand 
there decked in the garments of their own 
innocency, and adorned with their own 
inherent moral beauty. 

It will not do to evade this point, as 
some have tried to evade it, by saying 
that we cannot tell how God may save 



42 Infant Salvation. 

The doctrine not to be evaded. 

little children. This is casting a shadow 
upon a portion of the Scriptures which 
the Lord has made most plain and intelli- 
gible to all. No truth could be more ex- 
plicitly taught than this^ that " there is 
no other name under heaven given among 
men, whereby we must be saved/' but 
the name of Christ. " I am the way/' 
saith Jesus, '^ and the truth and the life ; 
no man cometh unto the Father but by 
me." 

We do know, therefore, for it has been 
most explicitly declared, that there is no 
way for little children to be saved but 
through Jesus Christ, the only Saviour of 
our lost race. We do know, likewise, 
that in order to be saved by Jesus Christ, 
they must be found in Christ, be quick- 
ened in their souls by Him, and have His 
atonement really applied to them. Of 



Infant Salvation. 43 

The manner of their regeneration unknown. 

the divine method of operation in effect- 
ing this^ we may indeed be ignorant. 
But we are most certainly taught that the 
method graciously employed^ is one in 
full harmony with all the other parts of 
the plan of redemption. So that in this 
view of the case again^ we are brought to 
the same result as before, and are con- 
strained to adopt the doctrine of the ne- 
cessity of Infant Regeneration. 

Can we need further proof? Then let 
us hear our Lord's declaration to Nicode- 
mus : '' Verily^ verily, I say unto thee, 
except a man (any one) be born again, he 
cannot see the kingdom of heaven." No 
one will question that this solemn truth 
was designed for universal application. 
This is set beyond dispute by the state- 
ment which follows in the sixth verse : 
" That which is born of the flesh is flesh." 



44 Infant Salvation. 

Inference from John iii. 3. 

Because all men are by nature carnal^ be- 
ing born of the fleshy all must be born 
again in order to tlieir saving admission 
into the kingdom of heaven. And as 
children form no exception^ in the one 
case^ they can form none in the other. 
Unless, therefore, children also are regen- 
erated, they cannot enter the kingdom of 
heaven. 

That which is born of flesh is flesh, 

And flesh it will remain ; 
Then marvel not that Jesus saith : 

" Ye must be born again." 

This section of our subject may be ap- 
propriately closed with the following 
words of Scott : ^^ Infants are as capable 
of regeneration, as grown persons ; and 
there is ground to conclude, that all those 
who have not lived to commit actual 
transgressions, though they share in the 



Infant Salvation. 45 

Infant Salvation. 

effects of the first Adam's offence^ will also 
share in the blessing of the second Adam's 
gracious covenant^ without their per- 
sonal faith and obedience^ but not with- 
out the regenerating influence of the 
Spirit of Christ." 

Two points have been thus far settled : 
(1) The total depravity of children by na- 
ture 5 (2) The necessity of their regenera- 
tion in order to their admission into hea- 
ven. We are now prepared to proceed to 
the third point in the outline. 

§ 3. — Infant Salvation. 

If what has already been advanced 
has received due consideration^ we will 
be ready to take up this pointy not merely 
as an onward step in the argument^ but 
for the purpose of finding some grounds 
of. hope against the mournful state^ in 



46 Infant Salvation. 

Sure grounds of hope desirable. 

which the Holy Scriptures teach us our 
children lie by nature. Only let us take 
care not to rest here upon the false and 
deceptive grounds which mere reason or 
sentimentalism may hold out. A simple 
foothold upon the rock of divine grace in 
Jesus Christy is infinitely more desirable 
than broad fields of such rubbish and 
quicksands, as carnal reason and depraved 
sentimental conceits may furnish. 

No question can be raised in which 
Christian parents should feel more deeply 
concerned than in that regarding the pro- 
visions made under the Gospel, for the 
deliverance of their children from the 
misery in which they lie by nature, and 
for their obtaining an interest in the re- 
newing grace of Jesus Christ. Who 
could be happy in personal covenant rela- 
tion with God, whilst devoid of all com- 
forting assurance that their children also 



Infant Salvation. 47 

lafants cannot repent or believe. 

had been admitted or might be received 
into such covenant relationship ? As long 
as the children of a Christian family 
would be left lying in their natural state^ 
we would have before us the sad spectacle 
of the infant ^portion of the household 
being helplessly^ under God's displeasure 
against sin^ whilst their believing parents 
would be enjoying God's favor. And if 
no other way were provided for our de- 
Hverance from the law of sin and death^ 
than by personal repentance and personal 
faith^ — as is maintained by some^ — these 
children would have to continue in this 
wretched condition of exclusion from co- 
venanted mercies^ until they were old 
enough to repent of their sins^ and to be- 
lieve in the Lord Jesus Christ ; — that is^, 
ordinarily, until they reached their tenth 
or fifteenth year. 



48 Infant Salvation. 

A mournful case. 

This were^ indeed^ a most appalling 
spectacle. And just those parents would 
be most deeply distressed by it^ who most 
cordially embraced those doctrines of the 
Word of God which have been already 
demonstrated^ and who most sincerely 
and ardently feared and loved the Lord. 
Apply this view of the sad plight in which 
these young children would be placed^ in 
some of its obvious details. Remember 
we are speaking of the case of truly 
Christian parents and their infant children. 
Look in upon them then^ through the 
glasses which the opinion we are exposing 
puts before your eyes^ and contemplate 
the scene. Those parents have learned to 
love and adore God in Christ as their chief 
good. Their purest joys and their holiest 
hopes are derived from their covenant re- 
lationship with the Redeemer. And for 



Infant Salvation. 49 

A wretched family. 

them there could be no higher earthly 
happinesS;, than to know that their chil- 
dren also had a real and living share in 
that covenant. But they are told that 
they must dismiss all present hope of this ; 
that their children^ " conceived and born 
in sin/' as they admit them to be^ must 
remain in that condition for many years 
to come. That until they reach the age 
of sufficient discretion to know the nature 
of sin^ to come under personal convictions 
of sin^ to repent of and confess their sins^ 
and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christy 
they can have no personal part or lot in 
His redemption. They might be told^ 
that if those children should perchance 
die in infancy ;, they would in all probabil- 
ity go to Heaven. But if spared in hfc;, 
their natural corruptness would cleave to 
them like a leprosy^ and be beyond the 



50 Infant Salvation. 

Can Cbristian parents endure such thoughts? 

possibility of eradication or cure during 
their moral and intellectual minority. 

Must not thoughts like these fall like 
a milldew blight upon all the other joys 
of those parents ? Can any affliction be 
conceived of^ sorer than such an affliction 
would be? A Christian mother nursing 
an outcast infant alien^ by nature a ^' child 
of wrath^ even as others !" A Christian 
father cherishing and toiling for his own 
offsprings and yet compelled to regard 
that babe as being in all moral and spir- 
itual respects an undeveloped heathen! 
Well might the constant and agonizing 
cry of these Avretched parents be — ^^Oh! 
that our children might even now live 
before Thee!" 

And yet Christian parents may become 
so entangled in a false theory of Christi- 
anity, and so prejudiced against what 



Infant Salvation. 51 

Influence of prejudices. 

they conceive to be false tendencies^ that 
rather than embrace such cheering Gos- 
pel views of this whole case as are war- 
ranted by the Bible^ they will persist in 
clinging to the dreary persuasion^ that 
their children continue ^^in the gall of 
bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity/' 
until they give evidence of personal re- 
pentance and personal faith in Jesus 
Christ. This assertion is not made at 
random; neither have I drawn upon 
imagination for a strong case. I know 
that a persuasion like this is entertained, 
and have heard it freely expressed. And 
it is held and expressed, also, by those 
who, in other respects, may scout the 
doctine of a limited application of the 
atonement. They believe that the grace 
of Christ Jesus is available in this life 
for all classes and characters of men, 



52 Infant Salvation. 

strange inconsistencies. 

excepting only little children. There is 
no foul blot which the blood of Jesus 
may not wash out but the blot of origi- 
nal sin clinging to infants^ so long as 
they remain in this present state of be- 
ing. There is no vile and loathsome 
moral disease^ which the Good Physi- 
cian is not willing to cure^ excepting 
the deeply-seated depravity with which 
all our children are born into the world. 
For the cure of this they and their pa- 
rents must wait until the child is old 
enough to repent and believe for itself. 
Publicans and harlots^ Mary Magdalens^ 
and murderers may at once enter into 
the kingdom of heaven in this life^ but 
even the infants of God's own redeemed 
people must be^ for the time^ shut out. 
There is no present grace for the children. 
How such views can be entertained, 



Infant Salvation. 53 

Natural reason against supernatural grace. 

with the letter of the Gospel in their 
hands^ aud the free grace of the Gospel 
in their hearts, it is indeed difficult to 
conceive. It is true^, the advocates of 
these views contend for them, hecause 
they profess to he unable to understand hy 
what method the grace of the Gospel can 
he made availahle for unconscious little 
children. This objection might stand;, if 
that divine grace did not, from first to 
last, transcend the comprehension of fi- 
nite minds. Grace is supernatural and 
miraculous in all its arrangements and in 
all its operations. The ^^love of Christ 
passeth knowledge," in its original con- 
ception, in its scheme of mercy, and in 
the entire execution of that scheme. If 
no sinner would be saved until that sin- 
ner, or that sinner's friends could fully 
understand how God can be just, and 



54 Infant Salvation. 

All grace incompreliensilDle in its operations. 

yet justify the ungodly; how the eternal 
Son of God could enter into true and 
complete union with flesh and blood; 
how He could '' become sin for us who 
knew no sin ;" how the 

'^ Spirit, like some heavenly wind, 
Breathes on the sons of flesh, 
New models all the carnal mind, 
And forms the man afresh," 

we would all be hopelessly lost. 

Grace, in its saving application ta 
adult sinners^, is not expected to be 
within the compass and grasp of the 
natural understanding of men. We are 
glad to believe that such sinners can 
be saved^ and are saved^ however un- 
able we may be to fathom ^^ the mystery 
of godliness/' or explain the wonderful 



s 



arrangements of the scheme which accom- 



^fc) 



plishes their salvation. 



Infant Salvation. 55 

Infants are as easily renewed as adults. 

Why then press a special difficulty^ 
upon this ground, in the case of young 
children? Is it harder, even to human 
conception, for Almighty love to apply 
the blood of the better covenant, with 
cleansing efficacy, to the soul of an in- 
fant, than to the soul of an adult? Can 
human reason descrv any more insuper- 
able hinderances in the way of the re- 
generation of a little child, than of the 
regeneration of a man? 

Most gladly may we escape from these 
dreary mists of reason, into the cheering 
light which '^Uhe Revelation of Jesus 
Christ" sheds upon this important subject. 
It does not allow believers to grope in the 
dark, in regard to a question which, until 
it has been satisfactorily settled, must be 
uppermost in their thoughts. 'If, after re- 
ceiving some sweet assurances of their 



56 Infant Salvation. 

The Gospel scatters our doubts. 

own pardon and reconciliation with Grod, 
through the atoning blood of the cross^ 
they anxiously ask : and what shall be- 
come of these ? it does not dismiss them 
with vague words^, or rebuke them for 
prying curiosity. ^^Our Father in hea- 
ven/' who deigns to employ an earthly 
parent's pity in illustration of His own 
diviner compassion, does not chide that 
parent's pity^, when its object is the spir- 
itual wretchedness, by nature, of be- 
loved offspring. Our merciful Lord and 
Saviour, who derives from the strong 
natural affection and concern of sinful 
fathers and mothers for their children, 
an argument to prove our Heavenly 
Father's still greater readiness to "be- 
stow the Holy Spirit on them that ask 
him," does not rebuke those parents when 
they exhibit affectionate concern to know 



Infant Salvation. 67 

Methods and processes left unexplained. 

what provisions have been made by the 
grace of God^, to deliver their children from 
the bondage of sin^ in which they were 
born, and to admit them to a saving par- 
ticipation in the covenant of redemption. 
His Gospel may not fully display and 
explain the process by which those chil- 
dren are qualified for admission into that 
covenant, any more than it exhibits the 
process by which the dead son of the 
widow of Nain was brought to life again, 
or that by which the daughter of Jairus 
was restored to her parent's arms. But 
what matters it, if we are left in the dark 
in regard to Divine modes of operation. 
It is not the process, but the result which 
properly concerns us. Most probably, if 
the details of the process in such cases 
were laid out before us, we should not 
comprehend them. But should this keep 



58 Infant Salvation. 

First proof. 

US from rejoicing in the blessed result? 
The ^^man born blind" could not tell the 
captious and inquisitive Pharisees^ by 
what divine means the Lord had restored 
him to sight. But ^^one thing he knew, 
that whereas he was blind^ he then saw." 
This was enough to constrain him to be- 
lieve in the Lord^ and to vv^orship Him. 
This was enough to fill his heart with 
thanksgiving, and his mouth with praise 
for the rest of his life. 

What clear and comforting evidence 
then do the Holy Scriptures furnish us^ 
that provision is made for the salvation 
of our children ? 

The first proof of this is found in the 
fact, that in all God's covenant trans- 
actions tvith men^ children are included 
in the covenant with their parents. This 
gracious peculiarity of God's dealings 



Infant Salvation. 59 

In every Divine covenant, children are included. 

with mail;, characterizes each dispensa- 
tion. '^ That this was the case Avith 
regard to the first covenant made with 
Adam^ in Paradise^ is granted by all. 
And indeed the consequences of the 
violation of that covenant to all his 
posterity, furnish a standing and mourn- 
ful testimony that it embraced them 
all. The covenant made with Noah^ after 
the delugO;, was^, as to this pointy of the 
same character. Its language was : " Be- 
hold^ I establish my covenant with thee 
and vjith iliy seed'' The covenant with 
Abraham was equally comprehensive^ 
" Behold/' says Jehovah^ '^ my covenant 
is with thee. Behold, I establish my 
covenant with theC;, and with thy seed 
after thee." The covenants of Sinai 
and of Moabj it is evident, also com- 
prehended the children of the imme- 



60 Infant Salvation. 

Hence the ancient sacrament of circumcision. 

diate actors in the passing scenes^ and at- 
tached to them; as well as to their fathers, 
an interest in the blessings or the curses, 
the promises or the threatenings, which 
those covenants respectively included. 
Accordingly, when Moses was about to 
take leave of the people, he addressed 
them as '' standing before the Lord, their 
God, with their little ones^ and their wives, 
to enter into covenant with the Lord, 
their God." (Dent. xxix. 10—12.)^ 

And to preclude all doubt as to the 
reality and the efficacious workings of 
this covenant, in its application to the 
'' little ones," the representative (the 
male) children in every Israelitish family 
were to receive a sacramental confirmation 
of its verity, by their circumcision. Of 
the spiritual significancy of this Israel- 

^* Dr. Samuel Miller on Infant Baptism. 



Infant Salvation. 61 

Even Gentile infants not shut out. 

itish sacrament; we are expressly assured 
by the Apostle Paul^ who designates it as 
a '' sign and seal of faith." 

Even Gentile strangers were not ex- 
cluded from the blessing of this covenant 
of mercy. They too might be circum- 
cised and allowed to eat of the passover. 
Nay^ the adult stranger might not only 
be admitted to this great privilege himself^ 
but was encouraged; and even obliged 
thereby^ to have his children also circum- 
cised; and thus introduced into covenant 
relationship with the God of Israel. So 
that if one of the surrounding heathen 
came to dwell among the Israelites^ bring- 
ing his wife and children with him^ and 
then avowed a desire to become an Is- 
raelite indeed; he was not only admitted 
himself, by the appointed sacramental 
ritO; but his minor sons came in with him 



62 Infant Salvation. 

This order not annulled under tlie Gospel. 

by the same sacrament. (Exodus xii. 
44-48.) In this respect there was one law 
for the home-born^ and for the stranger. 

That a provision like this would not be 
annulled^ or even narrowed down in its 
application^ but rather made more ample 
and comprehensive^ under the dispensa- 
tion of the New and Better Covenant^, 
might be concluded^ already^ from the 
avowed universality of that covenant. 
Under the Gospel^ all the national limita- 
tions and restrictions of the Mosaic econo- 
my were to be abrogated. The ancient 
ritual; and various ceremonial ordinances;, 
which had so long stood as a wall of se- 
paration between Jews and Gentiles^ were 
to be abolished; to be restored no more 
forever. The Gentiles^ also^ were now to 
be afforded an opportunity of reconcilia- 
tion with God; every way as full and free 



Infant Salvation. 63 

Earlier restrictions abolished. 

as that which was offered to the Jews. 
Both^ equally^ were to ^^be fellow-heirs^ 
and of the same body^ and partakers of 
His promise in Christy by the Gospel." 
There should no longer be any such dif- 
ferences as had^ for wise and holy pur- 
poses, been previously made^ between the 
Jew and the Greek. " The same Lord 
over all, would be rich (in mercy) unto 
all that would call upon Him." 

All this must apply of course^ to the 
children of Gentiles also. If the previous 
restrictions availed to the special advan- 
tage of the offspring of the Israelites^ why 
should not the offspring of the Gentiles 
be supposed to share in the advantages 
guaranteed by the abolition of those re- 
strictions ? The whole tenor of the pas- 
sages of Scripture just quoted forbids a 
contrary view. As under the former dis- 



64 Infant Salvation. 

Free grace for all children. 

pensation Gentile children were excluded 
with their parents^ so under the Gospel 
they should be admitted together. 

Such^ we say^ are the expectations 
awakened by the general character of the 
New Dispensation; and such are the con- 
victions wrought upon our minds by the 
teachings of the Apostles concerning the 
fullness and freeness of the salvation by 
Jesus Christ. Are these expectations 
confirmed by any direct declarations^ or 
special acts of our Lord or His Apostles ? 
Do they;, by word or by deed;, strengthen 
our convictions^ that under the Gospel^ 
even more certainly and efficaciously than 
under the law^ provision is made for the 
admission of children with their parents 
to covenant blessings ? And do they war- 
rant the belief that in all circumstances 
children dying in infancy are saved ? 



Infant Salvation. 65 

The doctrine explicitly taught. 

There can be no difficulty in answering 
these questions. The New Testament an- 
ticipates them with the most cheering 
and explicit statements. It teaches the 
doctrine of Infant Salvation through Jesus 
Christ by direct assertion. In other 
cases it simply assumes the truth of the 
doctrine^ as it does that of many others^ 
Avhich are considered so obvious as to 
need no authoritative revelation of them. 
Then there are passages involving the 
doctrine by necessary implication or infer- 
ence. Indeed there is hardly another 
doctrine to be named^ which seems to me 
to be more plainly and unequivocally set 
forth than this doctrine. 

It may be objected^ it is true : Why 
then have not all Christians discovered it ? 
Why are so many earnest and intelligent 
minds in difficulty or in doubt concerning 



66 InfajSt Salvation. 

Causes of doubts on the subject. 

it? I think all this may be readily ex- 
plained. 

These difficulties or doubts are^ al- 
most invariably^ of a logical or a the- 
ological character. They may be traced, 
not to any ambiguity of the Sacred 
Scriptures upon the subject, or to any 
lack of clear revelations with refer- 
ence to it, hilt to the supposed impos- 
sihility of reconciling this doctrine with 
some other parts of a system of faith^ held 
hy those ivho are in doiibt regarding Infant 
Salvation, To some, the doctrine seems 
irreconcilable with the dogma of election 
or predestination. Others conceive that 
it conies in conflict with their views of 
baptismal grace or regeneration. Still 
others imagine, that the frequent implica- 
tion of children in the temporal judgments 
visited upon their ungodly parents, affords 



Infant Salvation. 67 

DiflSculties stated. 

analogical proof that those children must 
be involved;, with their parents, in the fu- 
ture and eternal consequences of their 
sins. In each of these cases, the holding 
of the particular views named, unfits the 
mind for examining impartially anything 
that may be said in the Bible in favor of 
the certain salvation of infants. Those 
who believe in the doctrine of election 
may feel so fully persuaded of its truth, 
that they at once set aside every doctrine 
which does not appear to harmonize with 
it. In their opinion the doctrine of gen- 
eral Infant Salvation, is at variance with 
that of election, and therefore they con- 
clude that it cannot be true. Any Scrip- 
tures adduced in support of it are viewed, 
and tested, unconsciously to themselves, 
perhaps, but reaUy are tested, in the light 
of the other doctrine, and interpreted 



68 Infant Salvation. 

False reasoning. 

accordingly. They reason thus within 
themselves : " The Scriptures teach in 
plain and strong terms the doctrine of 
God's election of a certain number out of 
the human race to eternal life. This 
must apply to infants as well as to adults. 
Some infants, therefore, are elected, and 
saved ; others are not elected, and lost. 
Consequently, as Scripture never contra- 
dicts itself, it cannot teach that all chil- 
dren who die in infancy are saved; it 
cannot teach the doctrine of general In- 
fant Salvation." 

This is the natural operation of such 
rigidly fixed and settled systems of doc- 
trine, as attempt in a minute and math- 
ematical way, to define every point so as 
allow of no room for the amendment or 
modification of the terms in which the 
doctrines are set forth in their creed. 



. Infant Salvation. 69 

Logical consistency a hard master. 

But now suppose that those who may 
find themselves sorely embarrassed in 
this way^ had no such systematic or theo- 
retical difficulties to overcome. Suppose 
those who hold high Calvinistic views in 
regard to Divine predestination and elec- 
tion could see some way of reconciling 
general Infant Salvation with those views. 
Would it not be a new joy to their hearts 
to discover such a method of reconcilia- 
tion ? Would it not solve for them^ what 
has long been one of the deepest and dark- 
est mysteries of what they have hitherto 
been considering a part of the Divine 
economy ? 

And yet such a solution of the seeming 
mystery appears to be very near at hand. 
There is nothing in the doctrine of elec- 
tion itself;, as we presume some may hold 
it^ to forbid the belief that children dying 



70 Infant Salvation. 

Proposed solution of difficulties. 

in infancy are^ precisely^ among the Lord's 
chosen ones. In the most emphatic sense 
He may thus set upon them the unmis- 
takeable sign of their election. Their 
early^ and as we often hear it said^ their 
premature deaths is God's way^, in their 
casC; of making their salvation sure. Sa- 
tan^ '^ the god of this world/' seizes upon 
them as soon as they are born^ and binds 
them as the born subjects of his domin- 
ion. He afflicts and torments them with 
manifold and grievous diseases and bodily 
sufferings. Already he seems to exult 
in his triumph over them^ and to suppose 
that nothing shall be able to loosen his 
grasp upon them. But their Redeemer 
is mighty. He has otherwise ordained 
it. As the natural heirs of the inherent 
depravity and guiltiness of the race^ He 
permits them to lie^ for a little season^ in 



Infant Salvation. 71 

May not children dying young, be of the elect ? 

the anguish of physical sufferings. They 
too must ^^ glorify Grod in the fires." But 
" their light affliction^ which is but for a 
moment/' shall result in " a far more ex- 
ceeding and eternal weight of glory." 
They may be required to illustrate how 
God can^ ^^out of the mouth of babes 
and of sucklings^ ordain strength." But 
having accomplished this Divine purpose, 
the Lord " will still the enemy and the 
avenger/' foil his cruel designs, and 
gather the Lambs to their own Grood Shep- 
herd's bosom. 

Now what is there in this Adew of the 
case, which at all conflicts with what may 
be behoved to be the Bible doctrine of 
election? And even though that doc- 
trine may be constructed according to the 
most exact logical principles, it may 
nevertheless, consistently aflow all infants 



72 Infant Salvation. 

Predestination and infants. 

to be included in the sovereign scheme of 
redemption. Nay^ it may not only allow 
it, but even require this view of the case. 
For election always involves, I suppose, a 
predestination to be conformed to the 
image of Christ. Now our Lord, speak- 
ing of little children, says, " of such are 
the kingdom of heaven," of which declara- 
tion more hereafter. But to be " of the 
the kingdom of heaven " necessarily in- 
volves some corresponding conformity to 
the Lord Jesus Christ. According to the 
doctrine of election, therefore, even as 
the most rigid may hold it, little children 
dying in infancy belong to the number of 
the elect. 

But let us lay aside all such contingent 
difficulties, and search the Scriptures for 
their explicit teaching of the doctrine of 
Lifant Salvation, without permitting our- 



Infant Salvation. 73 

Abide by the Scriptures. 

selves to be hampered by fears that we 
we may run foul of other doctrines. If 
the Bible teaches Predestination^ that 
doctrine is true^ and must be embraced 
by uSj whether it seem to be in conflict 
with other doctrines or not. If the Bible 
teaches Election^ conditional or uncondi- 
tional^ that doctrine again is true^ and 
commands our assent^ whether we be able 
to harmonize it with other doctrines^ or 
not. And if Infant Salvation be taught 
in the Sacred Scriptures, it is true, how- 
ever much it may now seem to us to con- 
flict with Predestination, Election, Bap- 
tismal Regeneration, the necessity of 
personal Repentance and Faith, or any 
other doctrine we may have learned from 
the Master's lips, or include in our creed. 
It may be very pleasant indeed to be able 
to put together a system of divinity, 



74 Infant Salvation. 

Incongruities often more imaginary than real. 

which shall have no seemmg incongruities^ 
or logical flaws. But it is every way 
better to believe what Jesus Christ 
teaches^ even though we should be com- 
pelled^ in our rationalizing perplexities^ 
to ask : '' how can these things be ? " In 
all these cases of an apparent collision of 
doctrines^ we may rest assured the real 
difficulty is in our own minds^ or in our 
faulty apprehension of the truth^ not in 
the doctrines themselves. 

Among the many Scriptures bearing 
directly upon this subject^ the first place 
must undoubtedly be assigned to the inci- 
dent recorded in the Gospel of St. Mat- 
thew^ xix. 13 — 15^ and in the parallel 
passages of the Gospels of St. Mark^ x. 
13 — 16^ and of St. Luke^ xviii. 15 — 17. 
^' Then were there brought unto Him little 
children^' (St. Mark calls them ^^ young 



Infant Salvation. 75 

The Saviour's welcome to infants. 

children/' St. Luke calls them ^4n- 
fants/') '' that he should jjiit His hands upon 
them'' (St. Mark and St. Luke say " touch 
them/') '^ and pray: and the disciples re- 
huJced them'^' (St. Mark adds^ ^'that 
brought them.") '^ But Jems said^ Suffer 
little children^ andforlid them not^ to come 
unto me^ for of such is the Icingdom of hea- 
ven. And he laid his hands upon them^ and 
departed thence^ St. Mark in his more 
graphic style^ informs us^ that when Jesus 
saw that His disciples rebuked those who 
carried or led the children^ He was much 
displeased at it. And in full harmony with 
the other two Grospels, St. Luke com- 
pletes the account by adding what is most 
natural in the circumstances : "But Jesus 
called them unto Him." How strongly 
the disciples' rehuJce^ and the Redeemer's 
call^ are thus contrasted with each other ! 



76 Infant Salvation. 

The law of the Kingdom for children. 

Familiar as this Gospel for little 
children is^ and frequently as it may be 
quoted and dwelt upon^ there is cer- 
tainly reason for fearing that very 
many persons fail to apprehend the 
length and breadth of the love and 
grace which it guarantees to infants. 
Here^ evidently^ the law of the kingdom, 
in regard to children^ is laid down 
in the most explicit terms^ and con- 
firmed by a most significant act. In one 
brief, comprehensive sentence, our Lord 
issues a commandment binding upon His 
Church for all subsequent ages, and ex- 
tends an invitation of mercy to infants 
and young children of all future genera- 
tions. He does not say, '^ Suffer these 
children to come unto Me ) " but, in the 
most general terms which language af- 
fords : " Suffer children." There can be 



Infant Salvation. 77 

The invitation general. 

no serious dispute that the command was 
designed to have universal force. 

Some persons may^, indeed^ say^ that 
these infants were the children of Jewish 
parents^ and, therefore, included already 
in the covenant of mercy, by circumcision. 
Hence it may be argued that our Lord's 
declaration applies only to children of 
this class. But this is a gratuitous as- 
sumption. It is not only unnecessary, 
but unwarranted by the circumstances, to 
suppose this. If the place where this in- 
cident occurred is considered, it will seem 
altogether more probable that the Saviour 
was then surrounded by a promiscuous 
multitude, composed of Jews and others. 
He was spending the winter months pre- 
ceding the time of His crucifixion in the 
region of the Jordan, beyond Jericho. 
And it was in the midst of His last pub- 



78 Infant Salvation. 

Circumstances Tinder wMch. it was given. 

lie instructions^ delivered to the crowds 
which there gathered around Him in daily 
increasing numbers, that these children 
were brought to Him, and an opportunity- 
was had, by His own divine ordering of 
events, for proclaiming this law, and per- 
forming the symbolical act by which he 
sealed its perpetually binding force. 

Why, then, should we intrude an un- 
natural supposition here, in order to limit 
that which the Master was pleased to 
make general ? He has opened wide the 
gates of the kingdom for the free admis- 
sion of little children ; by what . right do 
any close those gates against all but such 
as may bear, what they may regard as 
an indispensable mark of qualification? 
He extended His gracious arms to take 
up all that were brought to Him, and 
blessed them all, without exception. 



Infant Salvation. 79 

The gospel gates opened wide to children. 

How can we justify ourselves for at- 
tempting to lay hold upon those arms, 
and exclude from their redeeming em- 
brace, such as to our bigoted phari- 
seeism, may seem unworthy of that 
mercy? Assuredly if we err, we had 
better err on the side of charity, than ad- 
vocate such unlovely exclusiveness as 
this. And any uncertainty which may 
hang over the actual parentage, or social 
position of the children involved in the 
present instance, may safely be plead in 
favor of a doctrine, otherwise so conso- 
nant with the Lord's gracious words con- 
cerning them, and His divine benediction 
pronounced upon them. 

As to the real import of those words, 
and the significancy of the imposition of 
the Redeemer's hands, accompanied with 
the solemn benediction, I confess myself 



80 Infant Salvation. 

The true import of the incident. 

constrained to go with those who attach 
to His words their widest and strongest 
sense, and to His act some real spiritual 
ef3ficacy. If the declaration : " Suffer 
little children, and forbid them not, to 
come unto me/' means anything consist- 
ent with the sound and sense of the words 
employed, it must teach that the salva- 
tion which Jesus Christ came to accom- 
plish, was designed to be available for 
children as well as for adults. The law 
He here lays down must be allowed to 
operate as freely as the invitation : " Come 
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will give you rest." And 
the phrase ^^Come unto me," employed 
in both cases, means substantially the 
same thing. The little children were not 
merely to be permitted to get externally 
nigh unto the Saviour's person, or corpo- 



Infant Salvation. 81 

The children were called to Christ spiritually. 

really into His arms. Their outward 
drawing near to Him w\as indeed a great 
privilege ; and His embracing of them 
and placing His hands in benediction on 
their heads^ was an unspeakably great 
blessing. But what was visible and cor- 
poreal, was but the symbol and the 
pledge of deeper and invisible spiritual 
operations. 

It was not simply because our Lord 
" had a tender love for children, and well 
knew that a proioer notice of these might 
turn to some valucible account^' that He 
said to His disciples : ^^ Let the little 
children alone, and do not now, or at any 
other convenient time, hinder them from 
coming to me." It was not merely, or 
mainly, because '' He would no longer be 
detained from showing His affectionate 
regard unto these little children," that He 



82 Infant Salvation. 

The sense of this Scripture often perverted. 

called them unto Him. Such paraphrases 
of Holy Writ, even though issuing from 
the pen of commentators as pious and de- 
A'out as Doddridge^ or as orthodox and 
learned as some who have succeeded to 
his labors without improving upon his 
views^ must sound most flat when com- 
pared with the celestial tone of the Sa- 
viour's words^ and seem most insipid be- 
side the invigorating wine of the original. 
One can hardly forbear pronouncing them 
perversions rather than paraphrases. 
They put our Redeemer upon the low 
level of a merely human sentimentalist. 
Prompted^ indeed^, by the consideration 
that a ^"^ proper notice of these children 
might turn to some valuable account ! " 
Movedj indeed^ by ^^a tender love" for 
children ! Such conceits might hardly 
be excused; had He not expressly told 



Infant Salvation. 83 

Miserable conceits. 

US what prompted Him, and plainly de- 
clared why He took them up in His 
divine arms. But with His own words 
and acts to guide us in the interpretation 
of what was said and done, attenuating 
and enervating paraphrases like these are 
not to be endured. 

Nor does the explanation frequently 
given, of the Saviour's taking up of these 
children into His arms, and laying His 
hands upon them, rise above the level of 
the paraphrase just animadverted upon. 
Substantially the act is described as 
amounting simply to " a tender embrac- 
ing of these infants with a holy com- 
placency and love." They say that, ^-as 
a further token of the overflowing kind- 
ness and benevolence of His heart to- 
wards them," He laid his hands upon 
them and blessed them, '• recommending 



84 Infant Salvation. 

Sentimentalism. 

them in a solemn manner to the Divine 
blessing and favor; which^ accordingly 
descended upon them^ to strengthen their 
constitutions and to sanctify their hearts." 
Now, however dimly or indefinitely any 
of us may apprehend the true import and 
force of the Saviour's treatment of these 
children, this solution of its meaning 
must seem utterly unsatisfactory. It 
leaves something unexplained, unnoticed 
even, which every believing heart is con- 
vinced must have been involved in the 
transaction, and is of essential moment. 
We cannot rest content with regarding our 
Saviour as acting, in this case, in His 
human capacity alone, or suppose that 
He did nothing more than any other 
godly, kind-hearted man, having a ten- 
der regard for children, and knowing, 
moreover, how well it is sometimes to 



Infant Salvation. 85 

The Redeemer displayed more than mere tenderness. 

please parents by noticing them, would 
have done, under the circumstances. Nay, 
our common Christian sense actually re- 
volts from so low and superficial a view 
of the case. That embrace and benedic- 
tion cannot be thus paraphrased for us, 
into an act and utterance of mere human 
tenderness and love. 

Rightly apprehended, then, the invita- 
tion of our Lord, calling the infants to 
Him, involved a true spiritual approach 
to Him, in His mediatorial character. 
In the invitation to the weary and the 
heavy laden, this sense of the phrase, 
" Come unto me," is admitted without 
dispute. So in the declaration, ^' Him 
that Cometh unto me, I will in no wise 
cast out." Whatever, therefore, might 
have been the thought or expectation of 
the parents or friends who brought the 



86 Ineant Salvation. 

He took them mediatorially to Himself. 

children to Jesus Christy however little 
they might have hoped for any thing 
beyond what was merely temporal and 
natural, we may feel assured that our 
Lord himself contemplated much more 
than this. His words of invitation re- 
veal Him as standing with an open hearty 
ready to receive them into His inmost 
and saving love. They assure us that 
there is nothing in the natural constitu- 
tion of infants, which stands as an insur- 
mountable obstacle to His saving grace; 
that they are clogged with no such intel- 
lectual incapacity; with no such disabili- 
ties of affection ; wdth no such impotency 
to perform moral acts suj)posed to be the 
indispensable conditions to personal sal- 
vation, as effectually and hopelessly shut 
them out of His redeeming mercy, for 
the time being. Infants though they be, 



Infant Salvation. 



Infants can come to Christ. 



requiring parental arms to bear them, 
they can as effectually and savingly come 
to Christ as adults, and by an easier ap- 
proach. Infants though they be, their 
souls, Tvith all their living powers, may 
be as truly and Hvingly united to the 
Lord Jesus Christ as the souls of their 
parents who repented and believed on 
Him. Therefore, He says : '- Suffer 
them/' these infant immortals, soul and 
body, (not with their bodies only,) these 
that, like yourselves, are lost sheep, and 
therefore equally need the help of Him 
who ^^came to seek and to save that 
which was lost," — suffer them to come to 
me, the Redeemer of their souls; I am 
wiUing to receive them. They are every 
way as really qualified to be subjects of 
my renewing and saving grace, as any of 



88 Infant Salvation. 

Their infancy no hinderance, 

you. Their inability to know my doc- 
trinO;, is no bar to my mercy. Their ina- 
bility now to confess me Avith their lips, 
jieed not defer their salvation. Their 
inability to lay hold of me with their 
personal love and faith^ need be no hin- 
derance to the power of my grace. By 
my providence, they have, through their 
natural birth, become the involuntary and 
unconscious subjects of the law of sin and 
death. By my grace, they are made the 
involuntary participants of the blessings 
of redemption, which I came to accom- 
plish. Where sin abounded, gr^ce shall 
much more abound. I have power to 
save them. They need my salvation. I 
do save them. Suffer them to come to 
Me, forbid them not. I lay my hands 
upon them. Their sin is pardoned. Their 



Infant Salvation. 89 



Tlie Saviour's benediction a realitv. 



nature is renewed in mine image. My 
blood blots out their guilt. Let them re- 
ceive my Spirit and depart in peace. 

Such, though but feebly and coldly set 
forth, I take to be something like the 
import of this part of the incident now 
under consideration. Does any one ask, 
whether I suppose that some special efiSi- 
cacy was connected with the imposition 
of the Redeemer s hands upon those in- 
fants? I answer unhesitatingly, that I 
do. And the efficacy connected there- 
with, I believe, was not merely of a 
moral or prospective sort. That is, the 
imposition of Jesus' hands upon their 
heads, benefited them, not only by the 
influence which the act might have upon 
their parents, not only by the subsequent 
moral effect it would have on these chil- 
dren themselves, when they should be 



90 Infant Salvation. 

The imposition of Ins hands conveyed specific grace. 

old enough to be told^ and appreciate the 
mark of distinction bestowed upon them. 
Before^ and above all this, the case re- 
quires us to believe that grace^ confirm- 
ingj sealing, sanctifying grace, streamed 
from the divine hands of Jesus into the 
souls of these little children, as really 
as the life of the vine transfuses it- 
self through the smallest and tenderest 
shoots, or as the light of the sun illu- 
mines the eye of the youngest infant; 
or as the quickening breath of God per- 
vades and animates every frail limb and 
delicate nerve of that infant's physical 
frame. 

What our Saviour did, in this case, 
was no vain or empty ceremony. "We 
cannot suppose that He would encourage, 
on such an occasion, what must have 
been a pernicious error, or foster a stu- 



Infant Saltation. 91 

The parents expected as mucli. 

pid and hurtful superstition on the part 
of the multitude;, had the laying on of 
His hands been a mere matter of ineffi- 
cacious formahty. The parents brought 
the children to Christ that he might 
touch them. They believed that there 
was some supernatural virtue in that 
touch. Had they not seen dreadful 
bodily and mental diseases cured by it? 
Why then should not that root of all 
maladies, inherited sin, be thus removed? 
Now^ either this thought of their's was 
based in truth, or it was a sheer super- 
stition. Its truth is corroborated by the 
Lord's compliance with their request. 
He is willing to confirm theh^ belief in 
the efficacy of the laying on of His hands. 
They are not rebuked for cherishing a 
superstition, but commended, rather, for 
their tender parental anxiety, to secure 



92 Infant Salvation. 

Salvation was thus sealed to those children. 

for their little ones every attainable bless- 
ing. The conclusion^ therefore^ is unavoid- 
able^ that some real grace was imparted 
to these children by the Saviour's act. 
But what else should be the nature and 
operation of this grace^ than that above 
suggested? By the imposition of hands^ 
therefore^ the Redeemer solemnly sealed 
and confirmed to those children^ the bless- 
ings of salvation^ which He had mercifully 
provided for them. It made their salva- 
tion a part of their life. It completed 
their living union as branches^ with Him 
as the living vine. And spiritual ener- 
gies^ corresponding with this sense of 
the transaction^ passed over from Him as 
their Redeemer^ to them as His redeemed 
ones. 

That is a natural and altogether suffer- 
able curiosity^ which has sometimes sought 



What became of those children? 



to trace out the probable future history, 
of such of these children, whom Jesus 
blessed, as may have attained to maturity. 
Did they grow up to be worthy of the 
grace bestowed upon them ? Did their 
future piety and zeal adorn the Church of 
the Redeemer whose hands of mercy 
were thus laid on their heads ? The in- 
quiry was started and circulated already 
in the earliest ages of the Church. 
It would of course not be easy, even 
then, to ascertain facts in the case. 
For us the difficulty must be im- 
measurably greater. And yet a tra- 
dition, entitled to some confidence, 
does report that the celebrated Ignatius, 
Bishop of Antioch, who sealed his pro- 
fession of faith in Christ, with his trium- 
phant martyrdom at Rome, was one of 
these infants. And why should we not 



94 Infant Salvation. 

Ignatius was one of them. 

hope to see them all in heaven, if by di- 
vine grace imparted to us from the atoning 
hands of this same Redeemer, we reach 
that blissful abode ourselves? Why not 
expect to hear from their own lips their 
testimony to the efficacy of the act of 
saving love, by which the atoning Lamb 
of these perishing lambs, sealed their 
title to the inheritance above ? They re- 
ceived such an ordination to life, as even 
the Apostles did not receive to their 
sacred office. For we do not read that 
when the Lord called them to the Apos- 
tleship, He laid His hands upon them, as 
He did upon the heads of these favored 
infants. 

One clause in the narrative still remains 
to be considered. It is that in which our 
Lord declares : ''for of such is the hingdom 



Infant Salvation. 95 

Of suck is tlie kingdom of heaven. 

of heaven^ When we remember how 
rarely we are furnished with reasons for 
what God does^ and how^ on the contrary, 
He most commonly requires us simply to 
believe that what He does is rights be- 
cause He does it^ this declaration must be 
invested for us^ with peculiar importance. 
Did our Lord utter these words^, and 
cause them to be recorded so explicitly 
by all three Evangelists^ in order to anti- 
cipate^ and in advance rebuke objections^ 
which reason and formalism would always 
be sure to raise^ against the admission of 
little children^ to present fellowship with 
His Church ? 

" Of such is the Jcingdom of heaven^ 
Strange explanations of these apparently 
plain and simple words may often 
be met with — explanations which lose 
sight altogether of the true and avowed 



96 Infant Salvation. 

strange explanations of the phrase. 

purpose of our Lord in uttering them, 
and which use them for an entirely 
different end. We are frequently told 
that these words are mainly designed 
to furnish a criterion by which to test 
our own qualifications for the kingdom 
of heaven^ and to decide upon the fit- 
ness of others for membership in it. 
And this being assumed as the key to 
the right sense of the phrase^ it is 
interpreted and applied accordingly. 
Supposed points of resemblance are raised 
between the temper and character of 
little children^ and that disposition and 
frame of mind and heart, which are held 
to be essential to worthy membership in 
the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Thus one of the Commentaries before me 
says : '' His meaning is, that all those, 
like these children, of humble, docile. 



I N F ANT S A L V A T I N . 97 

A mistake corrected, 

obedient dispositions^ shall be received into 
His kingdom of grace and truth. Per- 
sons of such a character are the true sub- 
jects of His kingdom." 

Now it is a serious mistake of those 
who thus explain the passage before us^ 
that they unwarrantably confound it with 
a similar^ but by no means fully parallel 
passage^ in the preceding chapter of St. 
Matthew's Gospel (xviii. 1 — 5.) An es- 
sential difference between these two inci- 
dents is, that in the earlier case, the 
children were old enough to walk, whilst 
in the instance Avith which we are at pre- 
sent chiefly concerned, they were infants 
earned, and such as the Saviour himself 
took up in His arms. 

But wholly apart from this mistake 
there are two great objections to the 
above interpretation of the Saviour's 



98 Infant Salvation. 

Objections to these explanations. 

words. The first is that it rests upon 
such a misapprehension of the true point 
or points of comparison^ if a comparison 
is at all intended, as involves acknowl- 
edged heresies. It holds up for our com- 
mendation the natural temper and moral 
characteristics of children, as being in 
themselves most innocent and pure, most 
faultless and lovely. And thus it fosters 
the error which it is the aim of the first 
section of this treatise to correct ; namely, 
that, notwithstanding the solemn and ex- 
plicit assertions of the Holy Scriptures to 
the contrary, children are not born in ini- 
quity and conceived in sin, so as to bring 
totally depraved natures with them into 
the world. Assuredly these two things 
cannot be true. Children cannot have 
by nature, corrupt tempers and affections, 
and moral characters, and yet be models 



' Infant Salvation. 99 

Children by nature no models of goodness. 

of fitness for admission into the kingdom 
of heaven^ on account of these very af- 
fections and tempers. And if people are 
taught to understand the Saviour's words^ 
in the case before us, to mean that the 
natural humility, docility, and obedience 
of children, are worthy of all imitation, 
they will very soon, and consistently, con- 
clude that the doctrine of total native de- 
pravity must be modified. 

Another error countenanced by this 
interpretation, is, that merely natural 
qualifications are sufficient to entitle men 
to admission into the kingdom of heaven. 
No atonement is needed, no blood of 
sprinkling "that speaketh better things 
than the blood of Abel," no fleeing for 
refuge to Christ, the only hope set up be- 
fore us, no investiture with His righte- 
ousness, as the only garment wherewith 



100 Infant Salvation. 

Another error exposed. 

to have our moral nakedness covered^ no 
regeneration^ no pardon of past iniquities^ 
no propitiatory reconciliation with the 
Father through the Son. All these^, the 
interpretation obviously implies^ might 
be dispensed with^ if only we had the 
meek^ the docile^ the obedient temper of 
little children. I know^ of course, that 
those who put this interpretation upon 
the passage^ do not intend^ by any means^ 
to teach such errors as those just enu- 
merated. None may hold the doctrines 
commonly laid down in our evangelical 
creed^ as taught in the Bible^ more firmly 
or cordially than they do. But this does 
not render their interpretation of our Sa- 
viour's words any the less offensive and 
pernicious. We know^ that whatever 
else our Lord designed to teach by a de- 
claration like this before uS; He did not 



Infant Salvation. 101 

Second objection stated. 

intend thereby to pronounce His redeem- 
ing mission superfluous^ or His renewing 
grace unnecessary. 

A second leading objection to this ex- 
planation of the words '^ of such is the 
kingdom of heaven/' is that it seems to 
ignore the main fact announced and to 
substitute an assumed comparison in its 
stead. It puts abstract moral qualities^ 
or natural affections^ in the place of actual 
living persons. The passage^ accordingly^ 
is supposed to be elliptical. To get at its 
true sense, it is thought some additional 
expressions must be supplied. That it 
should read somewhat as follows : The 
kingdom of heaven is composed of persons 
having dispositions^ affectionate confidence 
and meekness^ resembling ivhat is often 
seen in little children. But there does not 
seem to me to be a word or intimation, to 



102 Infant Salvation. 

True sense of the declaration. 

justify such a paraphrase of this clause. 
There is nothing said or implied^ which 
leads us to think that the Saviour in- 
tended to hold up these children^ as He 
did those in St. Matthew, xviii. 1 — 5, as 
specimens of moral fitness for His king- 
dom. We must, therefore, adopt another 
sense of these words as the only correct 
one. 

And that sense is the one most ob- 
viously lying in the declaration as it 
stands, without amplification or para- 
phase, " Of such (little children) is the 
kingdom of heaven." The kingdom of 
heaven consists mainly and emphatically 
of little children. All who have died in 
infancy, a countless, happy host, " early 
lost to be early saved," all these are 
safely housed in that kingdom above. 
All little children, living, belong to the 



Infant Salvation. 103 



The words to be taken literally. 



kingdom of heaven on earth. The king- 
dom of heaven consists of so large a pro- 
portion of children saved by the blood of 
the Lambj that it may be said with truths 
of such emphatically, is the kingdom of 
heaven. Not because they have docile 
and obedient tempers, by nature, not be- 
cause they are meek and confiding, hut 
because ihey are Utile children^ are they of 
the kingdom of heaven. And now be- 
cause, as children, they are graciously 
included in the kingdom, because pro- 
vision has been made for the implanting 
in their natures of a holy and heavenly 
principle to counteract and destroy that 
evil and corrupt principle which is natu- 
rally inherent in them, because they have 
been joined to Christ in regeneration, 
because of this do they exhibit whatever 
good moral dispositions and tempers 



104 Infant Salvation. 

Infancy lovely only througli Christ. 

may from time to time be discovered in 
them. 

This I believe to be the true order of 
cause and effect in this most interesting 
case. Little children are most lovely in 
whatever moral attractions they display^ 
because they belong to the Lord Jesus 
Christ. He has fixed His redeeming eye 
and loving heart upon them from their 
conception. Though doomed^ by nature^, 
to be born in sin^ and sinful, they are 
destined by His grace to be received into 
His arms as soon as they are born. The 
emissaries of the great red dragon may 
be waiting to seize them, when the 
anxious hour of their parent's painful 
travail shall have come. But brighter 
and holier spirits shall be there to catch 
them up and to present them unto God, 
in the name of the Holy Child whom that 



Infant Salvation. 105 

Lange's rendering of the words. 

dragon himself tried to devour at His 
birth. 

Instead of the common translation of 
this phrase^ one of the best recent com- 
mentators (Lange) proposes that it be 
rendered : " because /or such is the king- 
dom of heaven." This rendering, it Avill 
readily be seen^ Avould be more favorable 
than the common version to the sense 
v^hich I have been giving to these words 
of our Lord. They would then contain 
not merely the assertion of a fact^ but the 
revelation of a divine purpose agreeable 
to that fact. The doctrine of the passage 
would accordingly be : God in His mercy 
designed the kingdom of heaven for little 
children^ and has adapted all its pro- 
visions and arrangements to their natural 
character^ and their moral and spiritual 
wants. Instead^ therefore^ of excluding 



106 Infant Salvation. 

Further confirmation of the sense adopted. 

them from outward communion with Me 
or with My Churchy they are to be con- 
sidered as having a most unquestionable 
title^ through grace^ to such privileges. 
Because the kingdom is for them^ hinder 
them not from admission to the royal 
household or the person of the King. 

The view of this passage which has now 
been taken is further confirmed by what 
St. Mark and St. Luke add : " Verily, I 
say unto you, whosoever shall not receive 
the kingdom of God as a little child, shall 
in no wise enter therein." How does a 
little child receive the kingdom of God ? 
Certainly through regeneration. It must 
be born again before it can enter into that 
kingdom. And how does a little child 
receive regeneraCion ? I answer passivel?/ ; 
by being as clay in the hands of the pot- 



Infant Salvation. 107 

How children receive the kingdom. 

ter. It puts forth no meritorious acts of 
its own. Its heart is turned to the im- 
pressions of divine grace^ as the softened 
wax to the seal. It receives the king- 
dom of heaven^ solely through grace^, not 
in any sense through works. It is in no 
danger of substituting contrition for con- 
version^ or of vainly trying to wash out 
that native stain of guilt in penitential 
tears^ which only the atoning blood of 
Christ can take away. The kingdom of 
heaven is put into its hearty is made a 
central power in its nature^ and enters 
into the A^ery life and substance of its 
moral being, through Christ. And so 
must every one receive that kingdom who 
would indeed share in its blessings. 
Not as the thinking and reflecting man 
receives a system of doctrines, or a body 
of divinity, not as a reformed moralist 



108 Infant Salvation. 

All must receive it as infants do. 

adopts new rules of life^ and begins to 
cultivate better affections^ must the king- 
dom of heaven be received, in order to 
our securing salvation. But as an infant 
unresistingly allows a new principle of 
life to be combined with its being, so 
must they that would be saved, receive 
the heavenly kingdom. It is thus, and 
thus most prominently, that Jesus holds 
up these, and, through them as types, all 
infants, as model members of His spiritual 
kingdom. He does not say, that the 
kingdom of heaven must be received by 
all men, just as it is received by those 
little ones who are admitted into it, or 
who may be pervaded by it. The words 
involve no such qualifying limitation and 
scarcely admit of it. They seem plainly 
to teach that every little child receives 
the kingdom of heaven; and, now, in the 



Infant Salvation. 103 

The inference. 

same manner, substantially, as it is re- 
ceived by children, must it be received by 
adults. '^Whosoever does not receive 
the kingdom of heaven as {ever?/) little 
child receives it^ shall in no wise enter 
therein." 

The conclusion, therefore, to which a 
candid consideration of this incident, and 
the various phrases w^hich occur in the 
Gospel report of it, leads us, is undoubt- 
edly this : that our Lord teaches the 
salvation of all little children. He 
has not left them lying to our view, 
under the dismal mists of uncertainty 
concerning their relation to His person, 
or concerning their eternal doom, if 
they should be snatched away, before 
they can ^^ repent with the heart unto 
righteousness, or make confession with 
the mouth unto salvation." Unable, 



110 Infant Salvation. 

The doctrine comforting, 

themselves^ in their infant muteness^ to 
comfort the sorrowing hearts of parents 
as they sit watching and weeping over 
their dying bodies^ the heavenly Consoler 
becomes their spokesman^, and assuages 
parental anguish by the assurance^ ^'^of 
such is the kingdom of heaven." And 
the better to confirm our feeble faith^ He 
conveys this assurance^ not even through 
the inspired medium of an Apostle's 
mind and mouthy but pronounces it with 
His own divine lips. Why then should 
we hesitate to believe what He so author- 
itatively proclaims to be true? .Suppose 
the doctrine should he^ or seem to be^, 
embarrassed with some perplexing diffi- 
culties ? The same must be admitted in 
the case of some far less cheering doc- 
trines than this. If Luther could justify 
himself for persistently adhering to the 



Infant Salvation. Ill 

Sustained by Matthew xviii. 10, 11, 14. 

simple literal sense of the words of the 
institution of the Holy Supper^ certainly 
we may be allowed to repel all objections 
to our interpretation of the passage we 
have been considering, by simply reiter- 
ating the Saviour's own words: ^^'for of 
such is the kingdom of heaven." And 
this all the more readily, when we re- 
member what our Lord declares in the 
10th and 11th verses of the preceding 
chapter : '^ Take heed that ye despise 
not one of these little ones : for I say 
unto you that in heaven their angels do 
always behold the face of my father 
which is in heaven. For the Son of man 
is come to seek and to save that which 
was lost." And again in the 14th verse 
of the same chapter : " Even so it is not 
the will of your heavenly Father that 
one of these little ones should perish." 



112 Infant Salvation. 

Jesus the true friend of children. 

In the sentiment of Lange^ to whom we 
have akeady referred^ we add yet : " Thus 
are children and the kingdom of heaven 
designed for each other; the former 
qualified through grace for the latter, the 
latter adapted in its nature and provisions 
for the former. Jesus Christ himself 
is the true Patron of little children ; not 
the Archangel Michael, not St. Nicholas, 
not St. Martin, although the Lord com- 
mands all the angels and saints to take 
charge of them. Therefore He who was 
hesought only to touch the little ones, 
took them up into His arms, .laid His 
hands upon them and blessed them." 

But let us notice some other Scripture 
proofs of this same cheering doctrine. And 
in turning from the teachings of Christ 
to those of His Apostles on this subject, 
we are not surprised to hear St. Peter 



Infant Salvation. 113 

The declaration of St. Peter, Acts ii. 39. 

proclaiming on the day of Pentecost : ''for 
the promise is unto you^ and to your 
children^ and to all that are afar off^ even 
as many as the Lord our God shall call!' 
(Acts^ ii. 39.) To what promise does the 
Apostle here refer ? The verse immedi- 
ately preceding that which contains this 
declaration plainly tells us ; it was the 
promise of the remission of sins^ for the 
sake of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord 
Jesus Christ; and of the bestowal of the 
renewing and sanctifying gift of the Holy 
Ghost. The design of the entire dis- 
course delivered by St. Peter upon this 
occasion^ was to awaken in the minds and 
hearts of those addressed^ a deep convic- 
tion of their need of salvation by Jesus 
Christ; and of the influences of the Spirit 
of God. Nor was the Word preached 
without effect. It was " mixed with 



114 Infant Salvation. 

The whole multitude to be baptized. 

such faith in them that heard it/' that 
'^ they were pricked in their heart, and 
said unto Peter and the rest of the Apos- 
tles, Men and brethren, what shall we 
do?" They were told that they must 
repent and be baptized, " evert/ one of 
you^ in the name of Jesus Christy for the 
remission of sins, and ye shall receive 
the gift of the Holy Ghost." Mark, it is 
expressly said, '^ every one of you'' The 
entire multitude, even as they then stood 
before the Apostles, and hearkened to 
their words. No exception was to be 
made on account of age or sex. As all 
stood together under the same condemna- 
tion, all needed the same grace. And as 
all needed the same grace, all were to re- 
ceive the same sign and seal of that grace. 
Some of that convicted multitude 
might doubt, however, whether, having 



Infant Salvation. 115 

Their desperate sense of sin, 

sinned as they had sinned, such mercy 
could be bestowed upon them. But a 
little while before they had participated in 
the condemnation and crucifixion of the 
Redeemer. Having then '' despised and 
rejected " Him^ would he not now spurn 
and abandon them? They had joined in 
saying : " His blood be on us and on our 
children." How could they now hope to 
escape the penalty of that dreadful im- 
precation under which they had so madly 
placed^ not only themselves^ but their 
children? They richly deserved that 
God should take them at their word. 
And their conviction of the aggravated 
character of their sins^ especially as those 
sins had reached their climax in the cruel 
death of Jesus Christy was so deep and 
so condemning, that they were in danger 
of yielding to despair. 



116 Infant Salvation. 

Awakened conscience condemns them. 

At the feast of the Passover, which 
symbolized to them, through the slain 
Paschal Lamb, the great mercy of God 
to the house of Israel, it seemed so easy 
and sure a thing for an Israelite to be 
saved, that even though he should pollute 
his hands with blood-guiltiness, he would 
have no need for alarm. Now^ at the 
feast of Pentecost, which was also the 
anniversary of the giving of the law, 
their presumptuous confidence forsakes 
them. Their consciences, startled from 
profound slumbers by the loud reverber- 
ations of the violated law, cry out for 
merited vengeance, more vehemently 
than they had previously cried out, 
'' Crucify Him, crucify Him." Their 
guilt assumes a magnitude too immense 
for its pardon. The only prospect before 
them, for themselves, and their children. 



Infant Salvation. 117 

Their earnest inquiry. 

is hopeless death. No wonder they send 
up this earnest cry : " Men and brethren^ 
what shall we do?" Not, what shall we 
do to he saved ? No ray of possible sal- 
vation then shone in upon their alarmed 
spirits. It was rather the indefinite 
shriek of men verging on the boiling 
abyss of despair. 

This despairing cry, moreover, was 
prompted not by concern for themselves, 
alone, but for their children also. The 
shattered vessel on which they found 
themselves miserably wrecking, held their 
households, likewise. And all these 
seemed to be threatened with a general 
destruction ; all seemed to be sinking into 
the same yawning gulf This was more 
than even their hard hearts could endure. 
Before the storm was upon them, they 
mocked at its menaces, and supposed it 



118 Infant Salvation, 

Their fears for their children. 

would be easy for them to escape its vio- 
lence, and outride in safety the tempes- 
tuous waves. Now when it burst over 
them in its fury^ and they looked down 
into the dark depths, in which through 
their guilt and madness^ not only they^ 
but their helpless children too^ seemed 
about to sink and perish^ their stout 
hearts quailed^ and they cried out in an- 
guish. If only a life-boat had been at 
hand to rescue their little ones ! But they 
saw no hope^ even for these. 

It is by considering that this was the 
state of mind of the multitude addressed 
by St. Peter^ that we can more readily 
perceive the force and import of his en- 
couraging reply. This explains his ap- 
parently incidental reference to '' chil- 
dren!' He knew well^ as a Jew^ that his 
kinsmen w^ere accustomed to look upon 



Infant Salvation. 119 

Hence St. Peter's reference to children. 

the interests of their children^ as being 
most intimately bound up in their own 
interests. From the days of their earliest 
forefathers^ it had always marked God's 
dealings with themy to include the chil- 
dren^ and entire household (unless in cases 
of individual perverseness and obstinacy,) 
in every covenant and in every covenant 
promise. They would consequently, ex- 
pect, as a matter of course, that the same 
great principle would be retained, in any 
new dispensation granted unto them. 
And now they are assured that this 
should be the case. '' The promise is 
unto you and to your children.'' For 
them, also, the blood of atonement shall 
avail. They are included in the rich 
provisions of redeeming love in Jesus 
Christ, and shall share in the blessings 
purchased by the death of the Son of God. 



120 



Infant Salvation. 



The promise to tlie children sure. 



And we are led to conclude from the 
Apostles' words^ that the fulfillment of 
this promise to the children^ was not 
allowed to depend entirely upon mere 
human contingencies^ or upon an uncer- 
tain compliance with purely external con- 
ditions. Their share in these rich Gos- 
pel blessings should not be forfeited, for 
instance, by their early death — a death 
which would snatch them away before 
they had reached the years of self-con- 
sciousness or personal accountability. 
Neither should interests so solemn and 
far-reaching as the eternal welfare of 
these children involved, be allowed 
to be jeoparded, by the negligent 
failure on the part of their parents, or 
representatives, to have their children 
subjected to certain stipulated condi- 
tions, demanded of those who had reach- 



Infant Salvation. 121 

Not left to human hazards. 

ed riper years. Adults were required 
to repent and to be baptized^ as the 
condition of their receiving the benefits 
of the promise. If they refused^ or ne- 
glected^ to do thiS; they should have no 
claim to covenant blessings. The chil- 
dren^ also, were to be brought under these 
conditions^, so far as they could be com- 
plied with by children. They could not 
yet repent; but as this did not exclude 
them from the benefits of the promise, 
they were to receive the same sign and 
seal of their participation in those bene- 
fits, that adults, who actually repented, 
received. They were entitled to the rite 
of Baptism. Nevertheless, if their pa- 
rents or proper representatives neglected 
to present them for this rite, the eff'ect of 
the promise to them, should not be there- 
by rendered void. It should not be put 



122 Infant Salvation. 

Not lost through parental negligence. 

in the power of unbelieving or careless 
parents^ to frustrate God's purpose and 
promise of mercy and salvation to chil- 
dren^ for whom His Son had paid a pre- 
cious ransom. They might render the 
grace of God of none effect for them- 
selves^ by such unbelieving rejection or 
contempt of it. But their children's 
names were in the deed of promise^ and 
could be blotted out of that deed only 
by their own hands^ when once they 
came to act for themselves. A mother 
may forget her sucking child, — and ne- 
glect the higher spiritual duties which 
she owes to that child. But the Saviour 
of these little ones will not on this ac- 
count suffer them to be forever cast out 
and eternally to perish. 

All this, however, may be said to ap- 
ply only to the children of Jews. That 



Infant Salvation. 123 

This promise includes Gentiles. 

others, accordingly, would have no part 
in the cheering promise. That whatever 
grounds for hope the holy Scriptures fur- 
nish, concerning the salvation of those 
born within the limits of the outward 
covenant, they afford none for the off- 
spring of such as have no part in that 
covenant, as are " aliens to the Common- 
wealth of Israel." 

It is well for us that the declaration 
of the apostle seems to have anticipated 
this plausible objection. He meets it in 
the same verse in which the cheering 
assurance I have just now been com- 
menting upon, is contained. Turn once 
more to the passage, and you will find 
that he affirms not only that the promise 
is to those Israelites then before him, and 
to their children, but also " to all that 
ARE AFAR OFF, eveu US many as the Lord our 



124 Infant Salvation. 

The children of Gentiles also included. 

God shall calV There can be no ques- 
tion that by '' all that are afar off/' the 
heathen are meant. Even then^ already^ 
Peter was enabled to see by the Holy 
Ghost^ that salvation by Jesus Christ 
was designed for outcast Gentiles, as 
well as for the more highly favored Jews. 
This fact he fully apprehended, though 
it was long before he could accommodate 
himself to the method by which the Gen- 
tiles were to be brought to Christ. 

But must not this extension of the 
grace of God to the Gentiles be as gen- 
eral as its application to the Jews? If 
in the one case children were included 
in the promise, they must be equally em- 
braced in the other case. Under the ^^all 
that are afar off/' therefore, we must in- 
clude Gentiles and their children. And 
we must regard them as being included 



Infant Salvation. 125 

The terms of its fulfillment. 

upon the same, or similar conditions, as 
those stipulated in the case of the Is- 
raelites. The promise to adult Gentiles 
should be fulfilled upon their repenting 
and being baptized. The promise to in- 
fant Gentiles should avail for them upon 
their compliance with such conditions as 
it might become possible for them to com- 
ply with. But until they should become 
capable of rendering such compliance 
themselves, or until their proper repre- 
sentatives should become Christians, so 
as to be qualified to act for these chil- 
dren, the promise should hold uncondi- 
tionally good, so far as external forms of 
ratification were concerned. The efficacy 
of the salvation, which formed the es- 
sence of the promise, could not be neu- 
tralized by the lack of the application of 
an outward sign or seal of that efficacy. 



126 Infant Salvation. 

The promise in harmony with Christ's invitation. 

For if Gentiles were not condemned 
under the Old Covenant, in case of their 
perishing, for not obeying a law of which 
they were ignorant, including that of cir- 
cumcision, (Rom. ii. 14, 26, 27,) much 
less shall Gentile infants perish, under 
the New Covenant, for non-conformity 
with a law (as that of Baptism,) of which 
they are not only ignorant, but which is 
entirely beyond their reach. 

The doctrine of this passage, conse- 
quently, is in full harmony with that of 
our Saviour's declaration. Little chil- 
dren are, in their infant state, included 
in th^ merciful provisions of the kingdom 
of heaven. The "^promise'' is for them, 
in all its fullness. They may not for 
themselves apprehend the grace of God 
here, but they ^^are apprehended" by it. 
They may, in this life, not learn to know 



Infant Salvation. 127 

God loves them before tbey can know Him. 

the Father who loves them, nor the Son 
who redeems them, nor the Spirit who 
regenerates them. But should they be 
gathered to the multitude of the dead in 
their infant days, they shall find "a place 
prepared for them/' where they " shall 
(soon) see as they are seen, and (soon) 
know as they are known." It will not 
take their redeemed spirits long, in that 
abode, to learn the high object of their 
creation, and the glorious end of their 
existence. Speedily will be solved for 
them the mystery of their short and 
sudden passage through the flesh ; of 
their having been born in time only, as 
it were, that they may die, and then 
bloom in eternity. And their brief so- 
journ in this vale of tears, will make it 
all the easier for them to chime in with 
the sweet harmonies of the celestial choir. 



128 Infant Salvation. 

Though they only weep on earth they shall sing in heaven. 

So that although, denied the privilege of 
chanting their Redeemer's praises with 
His saints below^, they shall not be ex- 
cluded from the blood-bought throng 
which is continually rehearsing those 
praises in the courts above. 

" For hark ! amid the sacred songs 
Those heavenly Yoices raise, 
Ten thousand, thousand infant tongues 
Unite in perfect praise." 

Another special Scripture proof of this 
cheering doctrine is found in St. Paul's 
Epistle to the Romans v. 18, 19. " There- 
fore^ as ly the offence of one ^Judgment 
came upon all men to condemnation; even 
so ly the righteousness of one^ the free gift 
came upon all men unto justification of life. 
For as hy one mans disoledience many 
tvere made sinners; so hy the obedience 
of one shall many he made righteous^ 



Infant Salvation. 129 

Another proof. 

These verses^ with the t\YO which im- 
mediately follow^ form the conckision of 
the preceding train of argument. But 
whilst they set forth the result of that 
argument^ they also serve as a key to 
its import. What did the Apostle wish 
to prove? Evidently this^ that the atone- 
ment of Christ fully covered the sin en- 
tailed by Adam on his posterity. Indeed 
he asserts in verse 16^ that the atone- 
ment reached far beyond the dire effects 
of Adam's sin^ and availed for the pardon 
of penitent believers; who had added to 
that one transgression of Adam^ by which 
they were naturally placed under con- 
demnation^ the guilt of ^^many offences" 
of their own perpetration. At first Paul 
draws a 'parallel between Adam and 
Christ : Adam^ by his sin^ brought con- 
demnatioU; death^ upon the race — Jesus 



130 Infant Salvation. 

A comparison and a contrast. 

Christ; by his atonement^ canceled the 
penalty of spiritual death, and in its stead 
procured life for the condemned. 

But at this point the parallel dissolves 
into a striking contrast. Great as is the 
condemnation brought upon mankind by 
Adam's sin, it is far exceeded by the 
grace provided for the condemned in 
Christ. He, the great antitype of the 
first man, in this, as in every other case, 
more than fulfilled the demands of the 
typical Adam. Not only does He make 
atonement for the guilt entailed upon the 
race by its natural descent from, a corrupt- 
ed stock ; but He also provides means of 
deliverance from the penalty of tens of 
thousands of offences, which individual 
sinners add to their original guilt. " The 
judgment was by one (offence) to con- 
demnation, but the free gift is of many 
offences unto justification." 



Infant Salvation. 131 

The import of the analogy. 

From the analogy which is drawn here 
between the effect of Adam's sin^ and 
the operation of the atonement of Jesus 
Christy we also learn how the parties con- 
cerned come to participate in both the 
one and the other. By virtue of our 
natural relationship to Adam^ we become 
liable to the condemnation of inherited 
sinfulness. But this happens without 
our personal act^ or moral assent. So 
by virtue of the position in which grace 
places us^ as members of Adam's sinful 
race^ to the Lord Jesus Christy, the Saviour 
of that race^ from the curse of the first 
transgression^ we become partakers of the 
blessings purchased by the atonement. 
In the language of a departed master in 
Israel, whose opinions have still great 
weight in the evangelical Churches, ^^We 
are sinners in virtue of one man's diso- 



132 Infant Salvation. 

As came the condemnation, so grace comes. 

bedience, independently of our own per- 
sonal sins; and we are righteous in virtue 
of another's obedience^ independently of 
our own personal qualifications." 

''As by the offence of one judgment 
came upon all men to condemnation^, even 
so by the righteousness of one the free 
gift came upon all men unto justification 
of life." Let not the force of the little 
word with which this blessed declaration 
begins be overlooked. It comprehends a 
vast fund of comfort for those ^^ little 
ones" whom loving parents have had 
torn from their embrace^ and have seen 
hurried into what would be for such be- 
reaved mourners a land of shadows and 
gloomy darknesSj but for the bright light 
which Ho; who ^^ gathers the lambs into 
His arms, and carries them in His bosom" 
lias caused to shine in upon that region 



Infant Salvation. 133 

How the condemnation came. 

of the infant dead. ''^As by the offence." 
And how does the judgment or penalty 
of the offence come upon little children? 
In a way over which they have not the 
least control;, and for which they are not^ 
as infants^ held responsible. The guile 
of the old serpent so far succeeded^ that 
the first parents of the race fell under 
condemnation^ and that all the natural 
offspring of that race partake of this con- 
demnation. But the promised seed of 
the woman so far counteracts and reme- 
dies this . sore evil^ that none perish eter- 
nally because of that entailed condemna- 
tion. The inherited penalty is annulled. 
By being born sinners of a sinful race^ 
infants are naturally depraved and con- 
demned. ''Even sOy'' by being sinners by 
birth^ do they come under the provisions 
of grace^ for delivering such from the 



134 Infant Salvation. 

The spiritual penalty inherited from Adam annulled by Christ. 

penalty of their inherited sinfulness. The 
temporal part of the penalty does indeed 
remain^, in the case of these redeemed in 
fants^ just as in the case of those who^ as 
adult saints^ ^Hhrough faith and patience 
inherit the promises." These little ones 
must endure bodily sufferings^ and yield 
their frail tenements of clay to the cor- 
ruptions of the grave. But their souls 
shall not perish. ^^ As" the judgment 
came upon them to their condemnation^ 
so shall the free gift come upon them 
unto salvation. They suffer the temporal 
evil effects of Adam's sin^ without know- 
ing how or why. So shall they be the 
objects of the Redeemers atoning grace, 
even before they lisp His name, or feel 
the preciousness of His love, 

'' Who came to make His blessings flow, 
Far as the curse is found." 



1 



Infant Salvation. 135 

The blood of Christ avails for children. 

We have abundant reason to conclude^ 
therefore^ that the atonement of Christ 
has affected in an essential way^ the gen- 
eral state of humanity; and, Avhether we 
can explain the mode or not, that it is 
fully commensurate with the spiritual 
wants of all who die in infancy. Where 
Adam's sin abounds, the grace of Christ 
much more abounds. '' His blood cleans- 
eth from all sin/' to which men do not 
wilfully cleave by their own free, per- 
sonal act. As many as w^ere made sin- 
ners without their moral assent, "^ by one 
man's disobedience," and who die before 
they reach the age in which men become 
personally responsible, and by their own 
act endorse that one man's disobedience, 
and aggravate the guilt, by adding to its 
magnitude, so many, at leasts shall, " by 
the obedience of one be made righteous." 



186 



Infant Salvation. 



Infants all die in Adam, 



And that St. Paul really meant to af- 
firm this very doctrme becomes still 
clearer^ if possible^ by his strong and 
terse reiteration of it in his Epistle to the 
Corinthians^ xv. 22 : ^^ For as in Adam 
all die^ even so in Christ shall all be 
made alive." Who^ according to these 
words^ '^^die^'' that is^ primarily^ a bodily 
death ? All that are in Adam. Infants 
are consequently included. And why 
do all;, including infants^ die in Adam ? 
Because this was the penalty of the 
transgression. ^^In the day that thou 
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." 
This is the death which has passed upon 
all meUj through their relationship to 
Adam. Now all little children dying in 
infancy suffer this penalty. In their 
death this part of the curse of inherited 
sin exhausts itself. It cannot follow 



Infant Salvation. 137 

The temporal curse exhausted in their bodily death, 

them beyond the grave. Were there no 
additional revelation, it would indeed 
let them lie in that grave, to wake no 
more forever. But such an additional 
revelation has been granted to us. " In 
Christ all shall be made alive." He who 
proclaimed Himself *^^the resurrection and 
the life/' will also revive the bodies 
of these little slumberers in their narrow 
tombs. They will be found among ^^all 
that in the graves shaU hear the voice of 
the Son of man, and shall come forth; 
they that have done good, unto the resur- 
rection of life \ and they that have done 
evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." 
Do you ask : But to which of these 
two great classes, do departed infants be- 
long, seeing that they were called away 
before they did either good or evil? 
Were they, indeed ? Let me beg you to 



138 



Infant Salvation. 



Will infants share in the resurrection ? 



recall that saying. For even to do no evil 
in a sinful world like this^ were to do 
some good. But waiving this^ let me ask 
you^ is it not by such babes as these that 
God often accomplishes more good than 
reputed heroes in Israel effect ? Is that 
babe's life a blank^ which though the 
comfort of only a fleeting hour^ bore mute 
but eloquent testimony to the wisdom^ 
the power^ and goodness of God ? Is no 
good accomplished instrumentally^ by an 
infant which after tarrying but a few 
months in the household^ is suddenly 
snatched away^ that it may teach the 
mourning inmates such lessons^ as they 
are only too slow to learn in other ways^ 
of the uncertainty of life^ of the evanes- 
cent nature of all earthly joys^ and of 
the sovereignty of the God w^ho gives 
and takes away at His pleasure ? Has 



Infant Salvation. 139 

An iofant's life is a moral force. 

that babe^ so prematurely shrouded and 
prepared for burial^ and lying there in the 
beauty of that death-sleep, so like a 
cherub that an angel might mistake it 
for a brother — has that babe lived in vain, 
seeing that its early and deplored removal, 
sanctified to the hearts of the bereaved 
survivors, will make its mourning parents 
think more frequently and earnestly of 
heaven, their beloved child's home, and 
of the Lamb upon the throne, that loved 
one's Saviour, than ever they did before ? 
Oh ! has that infant lived and died so 
soon, to no good purpose, whose brief life 
and early death, have still left a testi- 
mony behind, by which, it, " being dead, 
yet speaketh?" The day of that de- 
parted infant's birth is never forgotten. 
The memory of the hour of its last 
agony, and death, never perishes. After 



140 Infant Salvation. 

They make lasting impressions. 

many years shall have passed away^ you 
shall go and inquire of those parents re- 
garding the sad events and they will recite 
to you all the details of that gloomy day 
and hour with mournful minuteness. 
The monuments of such things remain in 
the minds and hearts of many affectionate 
parents^ longer than some marble tomb- 
stones stand in the grave-yards. And a 
hand more careful than Old Mortality's^ 
may be seen re-chiseling the inscriptions 
recorded upon those monuments of the 
heart's cemetery^ on every returning an- 
niversary of the events to which they 
refer. Why^ therefore^ shall not these 
incidents of God's own ordering, be so 
many potent means in His hands, for ac- 
complishing some hidden purpose of 
mercy towards the intractable and way- 
ward sons of men. 



Infant Salvation. 141 

They serve God better than many adults. 

Then let it not be said that those in- 
fants deacl^ who shall come forth with the 
multitudes that shall issue from their 
graves upon the morning of the resurrec- 
tion^ have done neither good nor evil^ and 
therefore can receive no reward. They 
did not live in vain. During then' short 
sojourn in our habitations of sin^ they 
did what they could. Would heaven, 
that tens of thousands of those who are 
permitted to remain on earth, and ripen 
into adult age, were ever found bearing 
as good fruit, as is yielded by these ten- 
der shoots, so early blasted. Would hea- 
ven, that all nominal Christians were 
'^ glorifying God in their bodies and 
spirits," as truly, and as effectually as 
such infants glorify Him. Indeed there 
are few such preachers of righteousness 



142 Infant Salvation. 

They "shall be made alive in Christ." 

in the great congregation, as I have some- 
times known babes and sucklings to be, 
when dying in infancy, in the midst of a 
spiritually dead household. 

These infants, therefore, ^^ shall be 
made alive in Christ." They shall be 
made spiritually alive. For their only 
spiritual death, is that inherited from 
Adam. This Christ annuls in all, who 
have not, by their additional personal 
sins, become subject to the law of the 
second death. In Christ Jesus these in- 
fant souls stand arrayed before God in a 
new life, more beautiful and vigorous, 
than that which they lost by our j&rst 
father's sin. Then, in due time, their 
lodies also shall be redeemed from the 
power of the grave. They shall be made 
corporeally alive. 



Infant Salvation. 143 

Christ will ransom them from the grave. 

Arrayed in gloi'ious grace 

Shall their rile bodies shine, 
And every form, and every face 

Look heavenly and divine. 

Satan shall not reap any advantage from 
that seemingly mysterious providence 
which so soon recalled these infants from 
their earthly state. The Lord did not 
permit the scythe of death to cut down 
these tender flowers of the field in their 
early budding, only that the enemy might 
gather them into his everlasting fire. 
His gracious purpose in giving them a 
place for a short season among fallen men 
on earth, was that He might gather them, 
as the earliest fruits of the vintage, into 
the ahodes of ransomed humanity in hea- 
ven. He permitted them to be born into 
the death of Adam, that they might be 
speedily reborn into the eternal life pro- 



144 Infant Salvation. 

Last proof, from tlie nature of the judgment. 

cured by Jesus Christ. *^^As in Adam 
all (these) die^ so in Christ shall all be 
made alive.'' 

The last Scripture proof of the doc- 
trine of general Infant Salvation which I 
shall adduce^ is furnished by the revealed 
object of the final judgment. This is 
most explicitly declared to be to render^ 
by a final decision, ^^ to every man ac- 
cording to his deeds." Who shall, in that 
dread day, be doomed to suffer the bitter 
pangs of eternal death? The Word of 
God answers this question upon almost 
every page. And the plain import of 
every one of its answers is, that the only 
ground of everlasting condemnation in 
the judgment day, will be personal sins 
freely committed by the sentenced trans- 
gressor. "* The soul that sinneth, it shall 
die," and die for its own sins voluntarily 



Infant Salvation. 145 

Only personal sin freely committed will be punished. 

perpetrated. None of those wretched 
culprits shall have opportunity to say : 
" Our fathers ate sour grapes^ and their 
children's teeth are set on edge." '^ Be- 
hold^ all souls are the Lord's ; as the soul 
of the father so also the soul of the son 
is His : the soul that sinneth^ it shall 
die." The only condemnation which will 
fall upon any of the vast multitude 
gathered before that great white throne, 
will be the condemnation meted out to 
those who " loved darkness rather than 
light, because their deeds were evil." 

Read the Saviour's description of the 
character of those who shall then go away 
into everlasting punishment, and tell me, 
can departed infants be included in that 
class ? When did they deny Him before 
men, that it should be supposed He 
would deny them before His Father in 

10 



146 Infant Salvation. 

Infants never denied Christ. 

heaven ? How can tliey be supposed to 
answer to the character of barren fig 
trees, or unprofitable servants, or guests 
that spurned the wedding garment, that 
they should be involved in their doom ? 
When saw they Christ ^^an hungered, and 
gave Him no meat ; or thirsty, and gave 
Him no drink j or a stranger and took 
Him not in ; or naked and clothed Him 
not 5 or sick and in prison, and visited 
Him not ?" If, therefore, when all are 
called to " appear before the judgment- 
seat of Christ, that every one may 
receive the things done in the body, 
according to that he hath done, whether 
it be good or bad," nothing can be 
found in these infant dead, upon 
which, according to the established 
principle of the judgment of that 
day, a sentence of condemnation could 



Infant Salvation. 147 

They will not be cast out. 

rest^ we may feel assured that those in- 
fants will not be ^^cast out into outer 
darkness/' but admitted with the re- 
deemed to the joys of their Lord. Ac- 
cordingly in St. John's Apocalyptic vis- 
ions^ " the small " are always ranked 
with those ^^ great" who are reckoned 
the true servants of God^ and promised 
an everlasting reward. (Revelation^ xi. 
18; xix. 5.) 

Wherefore^ taking all these things to- 
gether, — remembering how much richer 
are the provisions of the Better Covenant 
than those of the former dispensation, — 
keeping in view the Saviour's treatment of 
little children, and His declaration con- 
cerning them, — adding to this the import 
of the promise announced by Peter on the 
day of Pentecost, — ^the argument of Paul 
in Romans, v. 18 — 19, and in Corinthians, 



148 Infant Salvation. 

The proofs summed up. 

XV. 22, — and the plainly revealed purpose 
of the day of judgment, and, in a word, 
considering the general tenor of the entire 
Gospel of Jesus Christ — tell me, "if 
Christianity does not throw a pleasant 
radiance around an infant's tomb ? And 
should any parent who reads these lines 
feel softened by the touching remem- 
brance of a light that twinkled a few 
short months under his roof, and at the 
end of its little period, expired, we can- 
not think that we venture too far when 
we say that he has only to persevere in 
the faith and in the following of the 
Grospel, and that very light will again 
shine upon him in heaven. The blos- 
som which withered here upon its 
stalk has been transplanted there to a 
place of endurance, and it will then glad- 
den that eye which now weeps out the 



Infant Salvation. 149 

Opinion of Chalmers. 

agony of an affection that has been sorely 
wounded ; and in the name of Him, who 
if on earth would have wept along with 
them, do we bid all believers to sorrow 
not even as others having no hope, but 
to take comfort in the thought of that 
country where there is no sorrow and no 
separation. 

Oh, when a mother meets on high 

The babe she lost in infancy, 
Hath she not then, for pain and fears — 

The day of wo, the watchful night — 
For all her sorrows, all her tears — 
- An overpayment of delight T^ 

With these eloquent words of Chal- 
mers, I close this section of my treatise. 
Its length will be found considerably out 
of proportion with the sections which 
preceded it, and with that which is still 
to follow. My simple excuse is, it was 



160 Infant Salvation. 

The comfort afforded "by this doctrine. 

SO pleasant for me to linger upon it^ and 
that upon searching the Scriptures with 
reference to this doctrine^ I found its re- 
velations so much fuller J and their light 
so much clearer than I had been led^ by 
what are the more prevalent theological 
opinions upon it^ to suppose I should find 
them to be. Shall I add more ? May I 
say that the Lord has laid this theme so 
near my hearty that I could not help but 
tarry awhile in looking upon the bright 
scenes it opens, displaying the blissful 
portion of the infant dead ? Reader, if 
any of your lambs were grazing in those 
far off 

Sweet fields arrayed in living green, 
By rivers of delight, 

it would be a joy to your heart to stop 
occasionally, as you reached the high 



Infant Salvation. 151 

Infant Baptism. 

ground of some mount of vision^ in your 
weary pilgrimage^ and gaze upon the pure 
pleasures of those lambs^ gathered to 
their rest before you^ and see that their 
Good Shepherd had provided for them a 
far better portion in heaven than you 
could have laid up for them upon earth. 

§ 4. — Infant Baptisrn. 

By nature children are depraved and 
under condemnation. The only way of 
their deliverance from this sad natural 
state is through regeneration. This is 
provided for them^ and guarantied to 
them through the atonement of Jesus 
Christ, which extends to their salvation 
from the curse of Adam's sin. There- 
fore they should receive the appointed 
sign and seal of that salvation, thei/ should 



152 Infant Salvation. 

The right of infants to Baptism. 

he ^' baptized in the name of the Father^ 
and of the Son^ and of the Holy Ghost!' 

This must be allowed to follow^ as an 
unavoidable conclusion from the entire 
preceding argument. If children are 
depraved and need the renewal of their 
nature to qualify them for heaven; if 
children are susceptible of such renewing 
grace by the operation of the Holy Ghost 
making them new creatures in Christ 
Jesus ; if the blessed Saviour himself 
receives them as His ; by what consider- 
ation can we refuse them the sacrament 
of the formal confession of their spiritual 
needj and of the formal confirmation of 
these blessings^ here on earth? If we 
think w^e have sufficient ground to believe 
that in case of their early death they 
would be admitted to fellowship with the 
saints, in the Church above^, which is 



Infant Salvation. 153 

If fit for the church above, why not for that below ? 

without blemish^ with what show of rea- 
son or religion can we justify any present 
exclusion of them^ from formal fellowship 
in the Church below^ whose beauty is 
marred with so many spots ? The Bride- 
groom does not disown them! Will a 
vain and haughty bride affect such sanc- 
tity as to let them lie^ on account of their 
natural uncleanness^ unrecognized and 
spurned at her door ? Pharaoh's daughter 
showed a kinder heart than this ! 

But why^ if children dying in infancy 
will certainly be saved^ whether baptized 
or not^ why have them baptized at all ? 
This question I know will be asked. 
And it can be answered^ too^ most satis- 
factorily answered for all who are willing 
to give the replies a candid consideration. 
Before giving these answers^ however, let 
me show the reader how utterly unfair 



154 



Infant Salvation. 



A false issue exposed. 



such an inquiry would be, if belief in a 
doctrine were made conditional upon its 
being satisfactorily answered. 

You acknowledge fvayer to be a solemn 
and important duty, binding upon all 
men ; that they should humbly ask God 
for whatsoever they need and desire to 
receive. But you meet with a worldly 
and irreligious man who asks you : Is it 
not altogether probable that my life will 
be spared until to-morrow- that the sun 
will shed its genial light upon me, that 
my table will be furnished with needful 
food, and that my usual temporal bless- 
ings will be supplied, whether I pray to 
God for these things, or do not humbly 
ask Him to bestow them ? You reply, 
Certainly, it is quite as probable that 
you will be as fully provided for as 
others ; for God causes His sun to shine 



Infant Salvation. 155 

God's free goodness no excuse for impiety. 

upon the just and the unjust. Upon this 
he asks you : Where then is the need of 
my praying for them ? What is your re- 
ply? Do you not tell that prayerless 
man^ that he has no right to plead the 
great goodness of God^ as an excuse for 
such contempt of Him; that one of the 
strongest motives to prayer^ is derived 
from that very consideration which he 
urges in extenuation of his neglect of 
the duty ? You might press other direct 
arguments in favor of the duty^ and direct 
Scripture proofs of its being obligatory 
upon all men. But your Christian feel- 
ings are so pained by the man s ungen- 
erous plea, that your first, and proper, 
impulse is, to fling back his plea into his 
own face, as the poorest and vilest apolo- 
gy which he could have offered for his 
ungodHness. 



156 Infant Salvation. 

Inability to see results no measure of duty. 

Now in this case^ you feel that a mans 
inability to see an immediate connection he- 
tween a duty and its effects^ or between a 
religious service and its beneficial inf^uence^ 
is no measure of his duty in any particular 
instance. Men should pray because God 
so uniformly blesses them with all needful 
good. We should say^ " Our Father who 
art in heaven/' because God is ^^our 
Father'' before we say it. We should 
pray^ '' Give us this day our daily bread/' 
even when the larder is already supplied 
with food^ and because it is supplied. If 
God's goodness anticipates our. wants^ 
our grateful acknowledgments of that 
goodness^ should go before the actual en- 
joyment of the blessings it confers. It is 
felt to be obviously indecent in such in- 
stanceS; to say^ or think : Why all this 
ceremony of asking and thanksgiving, 



Infant Salvation. 157 

The case illustrated. 

seeing that our mercies are already in our 
lapS;, or that the tide of goodness which 
is bearing them, is rapidly on its way to 
our doors? 

Suppose you had a child lying danger- 
ously ill, and likely to die. Nature and 
piety both prompt you to pray to the Lord 
to save its soul, if it should die, and take 
it to His home in heaven. You ask your 
friends around you to join in the prayer. 
But some of them object and say : "Why 
where is the use in praying for the child ? 
It is sure to go to heaven at any rate. 
Do not trouble yourself, or God, with 
your idle supplications." Would you 
heed their objection ? Would you not, in 
spite of their impious suggestions, fall 
down upon your knees, and put up your 
fervent petition to the Lord, for your 
dying child's eternal welfare ? 



158 Infant Salvation. 

Why are adults baptized ? 

Even if it were difficulty therefore^ or 
impossible for us to show any positive 
advantage in the Baptism of children 
who die in infancy^ this would be no rea- 
son for refusing to baptize them. Our in- 
ability to see any use in it^ would by no 
means render the sacrament superfluous 
in their case. Why are adults baptized ? 
Not in order that they may he saved, but 
because they give us good ground for 
hoping that they are among those who 
are now justified, and who will finally be 
among the redeemed in heaven. They 
are required to give evidence of repent- 
ance and of faith before they are ad- 
mitted to Baptism. Now suppose that a 
man who gives such evidence of repent- 
ance towards God, and of faith in the 
Lord Jesus Christ, should neglect or re- 
ject Baptism. Would he be saved? You 



1 



Infant Salvation. 159 

Baptism confers benefits though we may not see how. 

hesitate to answer. And well you may. 
The Lord who has said : " Believe/' also 
said : '^ Be baptized." But you cannot, 
perhaps, see any necessary connection be- 
tween the external sacrament, in this 
case, and the apprehended consequences 
of its neglect. Do you allow this inabil- 
ity on your part, or on his part, to justify 
a neglect of the ordinance ? 

No. You still hold that there must be 
some important connection between the 
sacrament, and the man's piety; or be- 
tween the sacrament and subsequent sal- 
vation, on account of which the sacra- 
ment should by no means be neglected. 
You do not think that a sinner repenting 
and believing, and willing to be baptized, 
would perish, if circumstances beyond 
his control prevented his being baptized. 
And still you think the ordinance should 



160 Infant Salvation. 

It is thought essential for adults. 

not be neglected by such penitent and be- 
lieving adults^ when they might obtain it. 
So I do not believe that little children 
who are denied the sacrament by the ne- 
gligence or unbelief of parents or pastors 
— that is^ therefore^ by circumstances be- 
yond the control of those children — 
would perish in consequence of such ne- 
glect. God forbid^ that it should be thus in 
the power of a careless or skeptical father 
or mother^, or minister of the Gospel; to 
pluck one such little one out of the Sa- 
viour's armS; and dash it against the rock 
of eternal ruin. These guardians of the 
child's body^ may cruelly neglect or hurt 
it bodily and temporally. " Their Father 
who is in heaven/' will overrule all that 
for good. But no cruelty of those guar- 
dians can inflict the wound of eternal 
death upon that child's soul. 



Infant Salvation. 161 

Why then not baptize infants? 

And yet^ why^ if the penitent believer^ 
who has thus become Christ's^ should be 
baptized^ even though he might not per- 
ish without it^ — why should not these 
children^ whom Christ claims as His^ be 
also baptized? Why should not Bap- 
tism be as beneficial^ and as important^ in 
the one case^ as in the other ? I repeat^ 
then, that those very arguments which 
prove that infants are by nature depraved, 
and need a Saviour, — which prove that 
they are born, naturally, of the flesh, and 
require regeneration — and which prove 
that full provision has been made for 
their eternal salvation, by the same 
method by which all others are saved, 
who attain to heaven at last — these same 
arguments all demonstrate their right to 
be baptized, and the duty of parents and 
the Church to admit them to such Bap- 

. 11 



162 Infant Salvation. 

If their 's is the grace, then also the sign and seal. 

tism. If we believe that children are 
proper subjects of saving grace, why de- 
ny that they are proper subjects of the 
visible sign and seal of that invisible 
grace ? If they can and must be regen- 
erated in Christy by the Holy Ghost^ why 
refuse them the washing of the outward 
laver of regeneration? If they can and 
must eat of the tree of life^ why chase 
them away from reposing under the 
shadow of the tree ? You are willing to 
give a starving man food^ and surely a 
dish to eat it from. You are willing to 
give a thirsty man water^ and doubtless a 
vessel to drink it from. 

In this vindication of Baptism^ how- 
ever^ only the case of children dying in 
infancy has been contemplated. If^, 
therefore^ the considerations just pre- 
sented^ satisfy you, as I think they must, 



Infant Salvation. 163 

Scripture proofs. 

that even such children are entitled to the 
sacrament^ and may derive benefits from its 
administration^ this must seem still more 
obvious in the case of children who may 
live to mature age. Now we do not 
know which of our infants may be taken 
away from us^ or which of them may be 
spared. Consequently all should be bap- 
tized. 

But the right of infants to baptism, 
and our duty^ accordingly^ to confer the 
privilege upon them, when they are 
properly presented for it; and, on the 
other hand, the utter inexcusableness of 
their exclusion from the Church on earth, 
can be demonstrated by explicit Scrip- 
ture proofs. I will simply enumerate these 
proofs, adding a few remarks under each, 
by way of explaining and enforcing them. 

1. It is the revealed will of Gody and 



164 Infant Salvation. 

First proof. 

His express command^ that all who share 
the olessings of His covenant of mercy ^ 
shall receive a sacramental sign and seal of 
such participation in those blessings. This 
was indisputably the case under the 
Abrahamic covenant. Then the sacra- 
mental sign and seal was circumcision. 
Abraham " received the sign of circumci- 
sion^ a seal of the righteousness of faith." 
Any who now yet contend that the cir- 
cumcision of the Old Testament dispen- 
sation^ was merely a sign and seal of na- 
tional or temporal benefits^ are struggling 
to maintain^ at all hazards, a theory con- 
cerning this subject, of which the founda- 
tions are felt to be weak and unsound. 
Its popularity and plausibility upon 
merely rational grounds, are more and 
more felt to be a poor compensation for 
its conflict with the positive teachings of 



i 



Infant Salvation. 165 

The Abrahamic covenant spiritual. 

the Bible. Whatever temporal ingre- 
dients entered into the substance of the 
Abrahamic covenant, and that same cove- 
nant as afterwards renewed to his natural 
descendants, the principal item in it is 
expressly stated in the words : " And I 
will be a God unto thee and to thy seed 
after thee/' (Genesis, xvii. 7) taken in 
connection with the subsequent promise, 
(Genesis, xxii. 18) ^^ and in thy seed 
shall all the nations of the earth be 
blessed." The circumcision of this seed, 
accordingly, was chiefly spiritual in its 
import. It symbolized that renewal of 
the heart in righteousness (so frequently 
called ''the circumcision of the heart,") 
which was to distinguish the posterity of 
Abraham far more manifestly than any 
temporal prosperity which might be 
granted to them. 



166 



Infant Salvation. 



Circumcision strictly enjoined. 



Now God attached so much importance 
to this outward^ sacramental setting apart 
of His ancient people^ by the rite named^ 
that the strict observance of it was most 
solemnly enjoined upon them. Indeed if 
they neglected it^ they should be con- 
dignly punished, (I say they, the negli- 
gent parents, not the unoffending chil- 
dren,) by being at once deprived of those 
children, of whom they thus proved 
themselves so unworthy. God would not 
entrust the rearing of children to parents 
who betrayed so irreligious a spirit, as 
willfully and presumptuously to neglect 
the early consecration of them to God;, 
by the divinely appointed ordinance. 

And not only were the natural descen- 
dants of Abraham to have the blessings 
of the covenant thus sealed to them. All 
Gentile proselytes, adults and children^ 



Infant Salvation. 167 

Even Gentiles had to be thus sealed. 

(Exodus xii. 43—49,) were in a like 
manner to be circumcised. This was 
made the invariable condition of their be- 
ing admitted to that great typical feast of 
the Jews^ which so pre-eminently fore- 
shadowed the spiritual blessings of the 
Better Covenant. None might mock at 
" hahy ci7'cicmcismiy" under the former 
dispensation^ as some endeavor under the 
Christian dispensation, to turn Infant 
Baptism into irreverent ridicule. Though 
Israelitish babes were not more precocious 
than the infants of Christians, though 
they could not understand the nature of 
the covenant for themselves, nor believe 
in it, nor assent to it for themselves, they 
were still to be circumcised. God had 
commanded that infant partakers of cove- 
nant blessings, as well as adults, should 
be thus formally introduced into those 



168 



Infant Salvation. 



The law of the Old Testament retained in spirit. 

blessings. And anti-infant circumcisers 
were threatened with a sore penalty^ even 
the death of their children^ if they des- 
pised or ridiculed the commandment of 
God. It was God's will that invisible 
covenant blessings should be ratified by a 
visible covenant sign and seal. 

This law of the Old dispensation^ was 
transferred to the New dispensation. 
The outward form of the sacrament was 
changed. Baptism was substituted in 
the place of circumcision. Reasons for 
this change of the form might be given^ 
but this is not the place for them. The 
fact itself is undeniable. St. Paul affirms 
it in ColossianS; ii. 11 — 12. It is clear 
from the place which Baptism occupies in 
the Christian Churchy by our Lord's com- 
mand. Under the Gospel^ therefore^ as 
under the law, all who have part in the 



Infant Salvation. 169 

All who share gospel mercy to have the seal. 

blessings of the covenant^ are to receive 
the sign and seal of those blessings, all 
are to be baptized. And if we have 
good reason to hope and believe, that 
children, and especially the children of 
believing parents, do partake in the salva- 
tion by Christ, we have equally good rea- 
son to know, and feel persuaded that 
they should be baptized. We may not 
be able to see why this law exists for the 
Christian Church, any more than the an- 
cient Israelite might understand why his 
child had to be circumcised, as a member 
of the covenant. But what then ? Does 
the divine Lawgiver limit His enactments 
by our ability to understand the reason 
or principles on which they are founded ? 
It should be enough for us to know that 
He requires it. Faith must take the pre- 
cedence of obedience, even as ^^ obedience 
is better than sacrifice." 



170 Infant Salvation. 

The command in Matthew xxviii. 19, 

All that we have to do^ therefore^ to 
convince ourselves of duty and right, in 
this case, is to ascertain what is the will 
of God. This we have ascertained to be 
that children, as partakers in His cove- 
nant mercies, should receive the sign and 
seal of the covenant. Children, conse- 
quently, are to be baptized, unless Ave 
can prove that they are excluded from 
those blessings, and abandoned to eternal 
death. Are those who reject Infant Bap- 
tism willing to take this dilemma ? 

2. This right is, furthermore, guaran- 
tied to children by the Saviour's express 
command to the Disciples, and through 
them to the entire Christian Church. 
'' Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, 
baptizing them in the name of the Father, 
and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 
The word " teach'' in this verse means to 
discipUy or to make disciples. It is a 



Infant Salvation. 171 

Includes infants. 

different word in the original from that 
used in the next verse^ also translated 
teach, 

^^AU nations" means those in all parts 
of the world where the Gospel should be 
preached^ who would receive the tidings 
of sah^ation in faith. Among these there 
would be parents with children. How 
now would the Apostles act with regard 
to these children of the new converts to 
Christianity? Would they baptize them 
also, as well as their parents ? 

Remember these Apostles, like our Re- 
deemer according to the flesh, were 
Jews. As Jews they had been reared in 
a Church in which children were admitted, 
as well as adults. They had always been 
taught to believe that children were to 
come into the Church with their parents, 
and by the same sacramental rite. Sup- 



172 Infant Salvation. 

So the Apostles would understand it. 

pose that instead of substituting a new sa- 
cramental form^ the old one, circumcision, 
had been retained. Suppose their Lord's 
command had then been — '' Go and cir- 
cumcise all nations." Would the Apostles 
have taken it for granted that children 
were included ? Most unquestionably 
they would. Assuredly then, wheii the 
command was i6>^a^^/^^, they would un- 
derstand it in an equally general sense, 
and baptize children as well as their pa- 
rents, unless the Lord had given them 
explicit instructions to the contrary. 
Accordingly we find that they actually 
baptized parents and children, promiscu- 
ously, on the day of Pentecost. After- 
terwards they baptized entire households, 
upon the repentance and faith of the pa- 
rents and adult members. In this respect 
there was one law for parents and children. 



Infant Salvation. 173 

Baptism, as a ceremony, was nothing new. 

It is well known that Baptism^ like the 
sacrament of the Holy Supper^ was^ as 
to its form, not a new thing. Both were 
customs previously existing among the 
Jews, but incorporated by Jesus Christ, 
into His Church, for sacramental pur- 
poses. In the days of our Saviour 
and His Apostles, it was the prevailing 
practice of the Jews to baptize the infant 
children of all proselytes, upon their pa- 
rents becoming Israelites. This is a fact 
abundantly attested by Jewish writers 
themselves. One of them (Maimonides,) 
says : '' An Israelite that took a little heath- 
en childy or found a heathen infant^ and bap- 
tized him for a proselyte^ behold he became a 
proselyted This again shows that the 
Apostles would naturally understand the 
Saviour's command to include little chil- 
dren, unless, again. He had explicitly 
enjoined them not to baptize such. 



174 Infant Salvation. 

Early Christians so understood it. 

And so the matter was understood by 
the early Christian Church. They uni- 
formly baptized the children of converts 
and believers. TertuUian^ who lived 
from about A. D. 160 to 230, is the first 
Christian writer known to have raised ob- 
jections to Infant Baptism. But he ob- 
jected to it, not on account of the early 
age of infants, but because he held that 
if any one sinned after his baptism he 
would be lost. Besides this, TertuUian 
had other very strange notions. He con- 
tended that young women and widows, 
also, should not be baptized, because he 
thought them peculiarly liable to fall into 
the snares of the devil, and thus be past 
aU hope, if they had been baptized. In- 
deed the fact and manner of TertuUian's 
objection to Infant Baptism, prove beyond 
controversy, that it was generally prac- 
tised in his day. 



Infant Salvation. 175 

A synodical decision of A. D. 250. 

Whilst Cyprian was Bishop of Car- 
thage^ (about A. D. 250,) a synod of 
sixty-six Bishops was held in that city. 
Among other things which claimed their 
attention was a request from a country 
pastor by the name of Fidus, who desired 
their opinion upon this point : " Whether 
the Baptism of an infant must not always 
be on the eighth day after his birth, be- 
cause circumcision was so?" They an- 
swered him by letter as follows : " That 
his scruple was vain; that the child might 
(and must if there be danger of death,) 
be baptized even sooner than the eighth 
day ; and the refusal to baptize it would 
be dangerous to the salvation of the child's 
soul." The truth is that so far from 
having any doubts upon the subject of 
Infant Baptism, the chief danger of the 
early Christians was to make too much 
of it in a superstitious way. 



176 



Infant Salvation. 



The main difficulty with opposers. 



To these two plain Scripture proofs of 
Infant Baptism^ I will add no more. 
Whoever will permit the objections of 
mere nature^ and natural reason^ to over- 
rule these two clearly revealed commands 
and factSj would let the same nature and 
reason over-ride a hundred. Infant Bap- 
tism is not denounced by those who op- 
pose it^ because it is unscriptural^ but be- 
cause they cannot understand what good 
it can do to little children; they cannot 
see the use of it. This^ however^ has 
been already shown to be a miserable ex- 
cuse for doubting or rejecting any truth 
or any religious ordinance. 



For the confirmation of those who be- 
lieve the doctrine as taught in the Word 
of God, I will now briefly state some of 
the benefits which are secured by the 



Infant Salvation. 177 

Benefits of InfaDt Baptism. 

blessing of God upon Infant Baptism ta 
the parties concerned. 

1. In Baptism the child receives^ through 
the promised mercy of God in Jesus Christy 
immediate release from the penalty of origi- 
nal sin, hy a formal covenant transaction. 
This release as shown under the pre- 
ceding section^ has been provided for all 
the children of Adam^ by the atonement 
of Jesus Christ. Its formal ratification 
to each individual;, however^ is made con- 
ditional upon the application of the sign 
and seal of the covenant of mercy. To 
the infant baptized^ therefore^ the present 
deliverance from the penalty of native 
depravity^ is formally guarantied. Bap- 
tism is '^ the sign and seal of the remis- 
sion of its sins." 

2. The second benefit secured^ is the 
official removal, from the child properly hap- 

' 12 



178 Infant Salvation. 

stain of original sin removed. 

tizedy of the stain or pollution of native de- 
pravity. Hence Baptism is called in the 
Bible^ ^^the washing of regeneration." 
Of course it is not the water used out- 
wardly in the sacrament that does this. 
A sacrament does not consist mainly in 
the outward elements which are used in 
it. It is the grace of God operating, ac- 
cording to His appointment and promise, 
through these elements, which makes the 
ordinance efficacious in each particular 
case. It was not the water of Jordan 
that cleansed Naaman of his leprosy. 
For such a cure, the waters of Jordan 
tuere no better than those of Pharpar and 
Abana. But God could, and did, choose 
to work through Jordan's waters, a rem- 
edy which He did not choose to perform 
in any other way. It was not the clay, 
nor the washing, externally, in Siloam, 



Infant Salvation. 179 

God uses the sacrament as a channel of grace. 

that restored the blind man to sight ; but 
the power of Jesus Christ operating 
through these elements as channels. So 
in the Sacrament. The Lord chooses to 
connect with the Sacrament of Baptism^ 
properly administered, the formal, official 
washing away of the stain of original sin, 
from the infant's heart. " By this divine 
pledge and sign He assures us that we 
are spiritually cleansed from our sins, as 
really as we are externally washed with 
water." 

3. The third benefit formally secured 
by Baptism, is the present renewal of the 
nature of the child^ in Christ Jesus^ hy the 
Holy Ghost. The germ of a new life is 
thus implanted in the soul of the child. 
Its Baptism is the visible " sign and seal 
of its being engrafted in Christ." His 
hand of redeeming grace takes the child, 



180 Infant Salvation. 

Last direct benefits. 

which by nature is spiritually dead in 
Adanij, and imparts to it the beginning of 
spiritual life in Himself. Thus the souls 
of infants are solemnly laid into the lap 
of the Saviour. He loved them before this 
was done^ and declares them to be^ through 
His grace^ of the kingdom of heaven. 
But now in Baptism^ He gives a formal 
sanction and seal to all this. '^' He takes 
them up into His arms and blesses them." 
4. The last direct benefit of Infant 
Baptism which I shall name is^ that 
God graciously receives such children iiito 
special covenant relationship with Himself 
through Jesus Christy makes them the ohjects 
of His peculiar care^ and^ if the engage- 
ment entered into by the parents^, or rep- 
resentatives of the children^ are faith- 
fully performed^ mercifully promises to he- 
stow upon them such spiritual blessings as 



Infant Salvation. 181 

Special grace bestowed. 

zvill promote the groivth of the grace granted 
them at their baptism. There may be a 
thousand ways in which God can influ- 
ence a child's heart, and mould its inner 
life. We know that such influences often 
manifest themselves. It is not true that 
baptized children grow up no better than 
others, any more than it is true that men 
and women who profess to have first been 
regenerated and converted in adult age, 
are generally no better than others. 
Baptized children, like baptized adults, 
may despise and reject the grace bestowed 
upon them. Their parents and friends 
may be unfaithful, may even be hinder- 
ances and hurts to their moral improve- 
ment. But the history of Churches in 
which infants are baptized will abun- 
dantly prove the faithfulness of God to 
His covenant promises, and the practical 



182 



Inpant Salvation. 



Evidences of grace in baptized children. 



benefit flowing from the sacrament. Nine- 
tenths of all I have ever received into 
full Church fellowship^ were baptized in 
infancy. I have watched with concern, 
yet with faith, the operation of the ordi- 
nance. And my unhesitating testimony 
is, that, as a rule, all the baptized chil- 
dren I have ever met with and observed, 
have given evidence of being under gra- 
cious influences, such influences as proved 
that the child was not entirely in a state 
of corrupt nature, not utterly ^'in the 
gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of 
iniquity." They have, in however childish 
a way, shown such fear of God, such 
love to Him, and such interest in religious 
duties as could not have sprung from a 
soul "dead in trespasses and in sins." 
By far the greater number of pious chil- 
dren, of whom biographies are published 



Infant Salvation. 183 



Indirect benefits not dwelt upon. 



by the American Sunday School Union^ 
and sketches are given in the Child's Pa- 
per of the American Tract Society^ were 
baptized in infancy. For some reasons^ 
however^ which I deem insufficient, this 
fact is rarely, if ever, stated. 

Other advantages, which are commonly 
enumerated under the head of benefits 
of Infant Baptism, I have not named, be- 
cause they are not immediately connected 
with the Sacrament, and are rather inci- 
dental and prospective. Among these 
may be included (1) the solemn obliga- 
tion of parents and the Church, to care 
for the spiritual welfare of baptized chil- 
dren ; (2) the fact that children are thus 
admitted into recognized fellowship with 
the visible Church; and, (3) the great 
moral influence, which it must subse- 
quently exert on children who live to 



184 Infant Salvation. 

The grievous sin of neglecting the duty. 

years of maturity^ to be told how mercifully 
they were cared for in their infancy^ and 
how solemnly they were consecrated to 
the Lord who '^ loved them and gave 
Himself for them." 

But certainly the direct advantages 
named^ are sufficiently great to convince 
all, that their children should not be de- 
prived on slight grounds, of such formal 
covenant participation in the inestimable 
blessings of the Gospel. Above all, in 
view of the plainly revealed will of God, 
upon this subject, and of these obvious 
advantages, parents who neglect this duty 
toward their children, will have a grievous 
sin to answer for to Him who said, 
"^ Suffer little children to come unto me, 
and forbid them not, for of such is the 
kingdom of heaven." 



Infant Salvation. 185 

Inferences. 

§ 5. — Conclusion, 

The truths and arguments set forth in 
the preceding pages^ have been design- 
edly treated in so simple and practical a 
manner^ as to render any special applica- 
tion of them almost superfluous. I shall^ 
therefore, limit these concluding sentences 
to the mere statement of a few inferences, 
suggested by the entire subject. 

1. The doctrines exhibited, considered 
in their necessary connection with each 
other, ^^show forth the exceeding riches 
of the grace of God," in the complete 
availability of the Gospel plan of salva- 
tion for infants. How precious to think 
of this when standing beside infants' 
graves? With what unutterable senti- 
ments of gratitude must not these lively 
hopes fill the hearts of believing parents, 
who have been bereaved of children ! 
What are we, that God our Redeemer 



186 Infant Salvation. 

The gratitude wMcli tlie doctrine excites. 

should so distinguish us^ as to translate 
our offspring from these abodes of sin^ to 
the glorious and blissful immortality of 
saints of light — that He should make the 
sinful children of poor sinners on earthy 
kings and priests unto the exalted Sa- 
viour in heaven? Surely this must add 
immeasurably to all our other obligations 
to love and serve him faithfully so long 
as we tarry in the flesh. Such parents 
should feel incited by these assurances 
and hopes, to redouble their zeal, so as, if 
it were possible, to supply the services of 
which the Church on earth has been de- 
prived, by the early removal of their chil- 
dren to the Jerusalem above. What an 
incentive, also, is thus furnished to these 
parents, and their surviving children, so 
to live, that the fiimily bonds broken on 
earth, may, in due time, be reunited, 
never more to be sundered in heaven ! 



Infant Salvation. 187 

How absurd to refuse Baptism to infants. 

2. In view of the facts and truths pre- 
sented under the leading sections of the 
foregoing treatise^ how absurd as w^ell as 
unscriptural; how irrational^ as w^ell as 
wrong, to refuse Baptism to infants pre- 
sented by Christian parents, or other 
suitable persons willing to assume the 
responsibility! Is it not strange that 
any parents, holding to Infant Baptism, 
should let their minds be for a moment 
disturbed by the unchristian, as well as 
stolid ridicule with which the Baptism 
of infants is sometimes assailed ? What 
is it these opponents to our faith would 
have? Look at the case in a figure. 

Here are brought hundreds of babes, 
the children of sincere and humble be- 
lievers, borne in their parents' arms, to 
the gates of the earthly Zion. It is con- 
fessed that they need salvation. It is also 



188 Infant Salvation. 

An Illustration. 

admitted that they have part, through the 
free provisions of grace, in Jesus Christ. 
It is, furthermore, conceded that they 
must, in some way, be susceptible of 
regeneration, to qualify them for hea- 
ven, should they die in infancy. Under 
these circumstances, application is made 
for their formal admission into the king- 
dom of heaven, the Church, on earth. 
Shall they be baptized and so admitted? 
This is the question raised at the outer 
gates. Now we may see two keepers at 
those gates, one standing on either side. 
On the right hand stands ^'the Angel of 
the Covenant;" on the left is Reason. 
When the Angel of the Covenant sees 
the little ones approaching on their pa- 
rents' arms, his countenance becomes 
unwontedly radiant with joy, and he 
welcomes them with cheering words, and 



Infant Salvation. 189 

Grace and Reason. 

says, " Let them come, let them enter, 
give them the sacramental sign, they are 
the Lord's heritage." But Reason quickly 
interposes; " Hold, hold," he cries, "whom 
have you here, babies ! what shall these 
do in the kingdom? Have they repent- 
ed? Can they believe ? Do they confess 
Christ? Nay, such unconscious mutes as 
these can never be admitted." 

To all this the Angel gently replies : 
" Why hinder these little ones ? Hath not 
the Master said, ' Suffer them to come 
to. Me, and forbid them not?' These 
infants may enter. Open wide the 
gates for them." — But Reason, persistent- 
ly reiterates, " They must first repent and 
believe. Until they do this they are but 
cumberers of the ground, and would prove 
a grievous burden to the Church. Let 
them wait for years of discretion. Away 
with these babbling babes; the Master 



190 Infant Salvation. 

A controversy. 

has more important work than to be an- 
noyed by them." — But the Angel of the 
Covenant again repeats the King's com- 
mand, and pleads the Lord's gracious ex- 
ample, and with authority declares — they 
shall enter in, for it is not the Father's will 
" that one of these little ones shall perish." 
Reason, daunted and displeased, finally 
responds : " If, then, you will have it so, 
have it ; — but as for me, I will go and 
build me another Zion, and surround 
with a ditch so deep, and full of water, that 
these young babes shall never be able to 
cross and get within its sacred precincts." 

Think you, dear Christian reader, that 
Reason did well, even though acting under 
the cloak of pious zeal ? 

3. There is one class of persons for 
whom the doctrines of this book must 
wear a peculiarly solemn aspect. I mean 
unbelieving and impenitent parents of 



Infant Salvation. 191 



A word to unbelieving parents. 



departed infants. Such parents have in- 
deed good reason to think that their chil- 
dren are safely housed in heaven. But 
how mournful^ how terrible the thought^ 
that the doctrine which assures them of 
this comfort, is proportionally full of 
threatening for themselves. The more 
certain you may feel that your child 
is safe, the greater the certainty of your 
never, never seeing that child in peace, if 
you go on and die in your impenitency 
and unbelief. You often think of that 
babe in bliss, through the Saviour's grace. 
Do you never feel drawn to love Him, 
who so loved your child as to die for it ; 
who so loved it that He hath taken it to 
himself? Do you never feel any yearn- 
ings of parental affection after that de- 
parted one ? 

Remember, the gulf which divides you 
from your child is growing wider every 



192 Infant Salvation. 

Will they ever see their children again ? 

day. A little longer and it will have be- 
come impassable for ever! Can you en- 
dure this thought — impassable forever ; — 
your child singing eternally in heaven^ 
and you sighing eternally in hell ! 

And how bitter will that portion of wo 
be for parents whom Jesus Christ has 
vainly sought to draw unto Himself;, by 
saving and glorifying their child ! Oh ! let 
His abounding grace rescue you^ at once, 
from such a doom! Humble yourselves 
under the mighty hand of God. Kiss 
the rod which has smitten you. Hasten 
to that Saviour^ who is as able as. He is 
willing^ to heal the breach made in your 
household^ and reunite you forever, a 
redeemed family in heaven. 

THE END. 






